Standard of practice imaging vs. PET/MR: a comparative prospective study in rectal cancer staging.

Background: Rectal cancer (RC) remains a significant global health concern, with increasing incidence rates and associated mortality. Early detection of metastases plays a crucial role in the effective management of rectal cancer and predicting patient outcomes. Imaging modalities are vital in diagnosing and evaluating the extent of metastases. The integration of novel hybrid positron emission tomography utilizing fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG) fused with magnetic resonance (PET/MR) has emerged as an innovative diagnostic tool. By combining both technologies' strengths, PET/MR imaging provides precise metabolic information from PET alongside detailed anatomical data from MR. This prospective study aimed to assess the clinical utility of PET/MR imaging with the 18F-FDG tracer compared to standard imaging modalities for detecting the extent of RC.

Methods: We enrolled 42 patients who underwent both standard imaging (CT and/or MRI) and whole-body PET/MR with 18F-FDG before preoperative therapy.

Results: Our results indicated that PET/MR with 18F-FDG provides superior detection of lymph nodes and tumor deposits in the mesorectum, with the highest diagnostic accuracy for tumor length measurement (area under the ROC curve (AUC) = 0.730; p < 0.05) and a combined model of SUVmax and CEA (AUC = 0.921; p < 0.001). Furthermore, PET/MR changed the clinical stage in 64% of patients and altered clinical management in 26% of cases.  CONCLUSIONS: The presented findings demonstrate the effectiveness of this advanced imaging technique and its potential to enhance treatment planning. By providing more accurate staging information, this method could significantly improve diagnosis, treatment customization, and overall outcomes for patients with rectal cancer, particularly in cases where lymph node involvement and tumor deposits impact therapeutic decisions.