Role of Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Defining Rectal Anatomical Landmarks and Primary Rectal Cancer Evaluation

In contemporary practice, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has become a useful tool in evaluating rectal and perirectal anatomy. It encourages accurate local staging of rectal cancer and has overall improved presurgical evaluation and planning, leading to reduce local recurrence and more sphincter conserving procedures. This article aims at providing a concise review of rectal MRI technique and anatomy and to relate this to local staging and surgical management. Locally generated images in our practice were reviewed and images that best depict different anatomical landmarks and pathologies were selected and presented. Also, PubMed database was searched for relevant and contemporary existing literature on the subject.