Peer Reviewed Journal

MRI to guide clinical management of rectal cancer: updated consensus recommendations from the European Society of Gastrointestinal and Abdominal Radiology (ESGAR)—PART I primary staging

Authors

ESGAR Rectal Imaging Guideline Group, Juan-Ramón Ayuso, Svetlana Balyaniskova, Regina G. H. Beets‐Tan, Ivana Blažić, Lennart Blomqvist, Damiano Caruso, Filippo Crimí, Luís Curvo‐Semedo, Raphaëla C. Dresen, Marc J. Gollub, Vicky Goh, Kirsten Gormly, Sofia Gourtsoyianni, Bengı Gürses, Christine Hoeffel, Andreas M. Hötker, Natally Horvat, D. Ippolito, Seung Ho Kim, Andrea Laghi, Max J. Lahaye, Doenja M. J. Lambregts, Monique Maas, Stephanie Nougaret, Cinthia D. Ortega, Emilio Quaia, Søren Rafael Rafaelsen, P. Rodríguez Carnero, Inês Santiago, Saugata Sen, Soleen Stocker-Ghafoor, Jaap Stoker

Citation
ESGAR Rectal Imaging Guideline Group, J. (2026). MRI to guide clinical management of rectal cancer: updated consensus recommendations from the European Society of Gastrointestinal and Abdominal Radiology (ESGAR)—PART I primary staging. European Radiology. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-025-12274-w
Abstract

Question Since the last ESGAR rectal imaging guideline update, the rectal cancer treatment landscape has further evolved, necessitating updates to the existing guidelines. Findings An online consensus process involving 26 panellists led to 96% consensus across 121 items discussed, including 22 general items and 55 related to primary staging. Clinical relevance Key updates related to primary staging include more detailed recommendations for image acquisition, adoption of the sigmoid take-off, refined criteria for MRF involvement, a new patient-level approach for cN-assessment, and recommendations on the limited use of DWI.

Researchers in this portal
RB
Regina G. H. Beets-Tan