Association between high-resolution MRI-detected extramural vascular invasion and tumour microcirculation estimated by dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI in rectal cancer: preliminary results

摘要

To determine whether magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-detected extramural vascular invasion (mrEMVI) status is associated with quantitative perfusion parameters derived from dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI (DCE-MRI) in rectal cancer. Seventy-two patients with rectal adenocarcinoma who underwent curative surgery alone within 2?weeks following rectal MRI were enrolled in this retrospective study. mrEMVI status was determined based on high-resolution MRI. The quantitative perfusion parameters (Ktrans, kep and ve) derived from DCE-MRI were calculated from all sections containing tumours. DCE-MRI parameters and clinicopathological variables in patients with different mrEMVI statuses were compared. For patients who were mrEMVI positive, the tumours demonstrated significantly lower kep values (P?=?0.012) and higher ve values (P?=?0.021) than tumours of patients who were mrEMVI negative, while the Ktrans value displayed no significant difference (P?=?0.390). The patients who were mrEMVI positive had larger tumour size, higher pathological tumour stage and increased regional nodal metastases compared to those who were mrEMVI negative (2.9?cm vs. 3.5?cm, P?=?0.011; 63.8% vs. 92.0%, P?=?0.010; 36.2% vs. 76.0%, P?=?0.001; respectively). This study demonstrated for the first time that tumour microcirculation is altered in mrEMVI-positive patients with rectal adenocarcinoma, as evidenced by significantly lower kep and higher ve values. In addition, these patients were more likely to have a larger tumour size, a higher pathological tumour stage and regional nodal metastases than mrEMVI-negative patients.