BJR
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
British Journal of Radiology (2008) 81, 91-98
© 2008 British Institute of Radiology
doi: 10.1259/bjr/96187638
This Article
Right arrow Figures Only
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Services
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow reprints & permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by KOH, D M
Right arrow Articles by BROWN, G
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by KOH, D M
Right arrow Articles by BROWN, G

Full paper

Pelvic phased-array MR imaging of anal carcinoma before and after chemoradiation

D M KOH, MRCP, FRCR1, A DZIK-JURASZ, FRCR, PhD1, B O'NEILL, MRCP2, D TAIT, MD, FRCR2, J E HUSBAND, DBE, FRCR, FRCP1 and G BROWN, MD, FRCR1

1 Academic Department of Radiology, 2 Department of Radiation Oncology, Royal Marsden Hospital, Sutton, UK

Correspondence: Dr D M Koh, Academic Department of Radiology, Royal Marsden Hospital, Cancer Research UK Magnetic Resonance Group, Institute of Cancer Research, Downs Road, Sutton, SM2 5PT. E-mail: dowmukoh{at}icr.ac.uk

The aim of this study was to evaluate the MR findings of anal carcinoma using an external pelvic phased-array coil before and after chemoradiation treatment. 15 patients with carcinoma of the anal canal underwent T2 weighted and short-tau inversion recovery (STIR) imaging before and after chemoradiation. Images were reviewed in consensus by two radiologists. At pre-treatment imaging, the tumour size and stage, signal intensity and infiltration of adjacent structures were recorded. MR imaging was repeated immediately after chemoradiation, every 6 months for the first year and then yearly. Tumour response was assessed by recording change in tumour size and signal intensity. Prior to treatment, the mean tumour size was 3.9 cm (range, 1.8–6.4 cm). Tumours appeared mildly hyperintense at T2 weighted and STIR imaging. There was good agreement in T staging between clinical examination and MR imaging (kappa = 0.68). In 12 responders with long disease remission, a greater percentage reduction in the size of MR signal abnormality in the tumour area was observed at 6 months (mean 54.7%; 46–62%) than immediately after treatment (mean 38.6%; 30–46%) (p = 0.002, t-test). 7/12 showed stabilization of T2 signal reduction in the tumour area after 1 year, and 5/12 showed complete resolution of signal alterations at 2 years. Pelvic phased-array MR imaging is useful for local staging of anal carcinoma and assessing treatment response. After treatment, a decrease in tumour size accompanied by reduction and stability of the MR T2 signal characteristics at 1 year after chemoradiation treatment was associated with favourable outcome.






HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
BJR DMFR IMAGING  ALL BIR JOURNALS 
Copyright © 2008 by the British Institute of Radiology.