Persistent extramural vascular invasion positivity on magnetic resonance imaging after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy predicts poor outcome in rectal cancer

摘要

BackgroundIn rectal cancer, extramural vascular invasion (EMVI) is the presence of tumour cells in blood vessels outside the muscular layer, which is associated with poor prognosis. Regression of EMVI on MRI following neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy or its persistence may have prognostic implications.MethodsThis retrospective study included 52 patients with rectal cancer who underwent total mesorectal excision following long-course neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (CRT). EMVI assessments were done on previous pelvic MRIs obtained before neoadjuvant CRT and eight weeks after the completion of neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy in initially EMVI positive cases.ResultsPersistently EMVI positive patients had worse overall survival and disease-free survival compared to initially EMVI negative patients and patients who returned to negative (p?