Korean Journal of Radiology  2017;18(6):946-956

doi:10.3348/kjr.2017.18.6.946

Cancer of the Anal Canal: Diagnosis, Staging and Follow-Up with MRI.

Carole DUROT 1 ; Anthony DOHAN ; Mourad BOUDIAF ; Vincent SERVOIS ; Philippe SOYER ; Christine HOEFFEL

Affiliations

+expand

Keywords

Anus; Anal cancer; Diagnosis; Staging; Magnetic resonance imaging

Country

Republic of Korea

Language

English

Abstract

Although a rare disease, anal cancer is increasingly being diagnosed in patients with risk factors, mainly anal infection with the human papilloma virus. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with external phased-array coils is recommended as the imaging modality of choice to grade anal cancers and to evaluate the response assessment after chemoradiotherapy, with a high contrast and good anatomic resolution of the anal canal. MRI provides a performant evaluation of size, extent and signal characteristics of the anal tumor before and after treatment, as well as lymph node involvement and extension to the adjacent organs. MRI is also particularly helpful in the assessment of complications after treatment, and in the diagnosis for relapse of the diseases.