Measurement of rectal tumor height from the anal verge on MRI: a comparison of internal versus external anal sphincter

Purpose To determine the most accurate measurement technique to assess rectal tumor height on MRI using two different anatomic landmarks for the anal verge. Introduction Accurate measurements and standardized reporting of MRI for rectal cancer staging is essential. It is not known whether measurements starting from the internal anal sphincter (IAS) or external anal sphincter (EAS) more closely correlate with tumor height from the anal verge on endoscopy. Methods This retrospective study included baseline staging MRI examinations for 85 patients after exclusions. Two radiologists blinded to endoscopic results measured the distance of rectal tumors from the internal anal sphincter and external anal sphincter on sagittal T2 images. The reference standard was endoscopic measurement of tumor height; descriptive statistics were performed. Results For reader 1, the mean difference in measurement of tumor height between MRI and endoscopy was - 0.45 cm (SD +/- 1.76 cm, range - 6.0 to 3.9 cm) for the IAS and 0.51 cm (SD +/- 1.75 cm range - 4.7 to 4.8 cm) for the EAS. For reader 2, the mean difference in measurement of tumor height between MRI and endoscopy was - 0.57 (STD +/- 1.81, range - 5.9 to 4.8 cm) for the IAS and 0.52 cm (STD +/- 1.85, range - 4.3 to 5.6 cm) for the EAS. Interobserver ICC was excellent between reader 1 and reader 2 for measurements from both the IAS (0.955 95% CI 0.931-0.97) and EAS (0.952, 95% CI 0.928, 0.969). Conclusion Measurement of tumor height on MRI was highly reproducible between readers; beginning measurements from the EAS tends to slightly overestimate tumor height on average and from the IAS tends to slightly underestimate tumor height on average.

Automated summary

Measurement of rectal tumor height on MRI is highly reproducible between readers, with measurements starting from EAS tending to slightly overestimate tumor height on average and from IAS tending to slightly underestimate tumor height on average.