RECTAL IMAGING AND CANCER

Rectal imaging has evolved substantially during the past 25 years and now offers surgeons exquisite anatomic detail and physiologic informat ion. Dynamic cystoproctography, helical computed tomography, endoscopi c ultrasonography, endorectal magnetic resonance imaging, and immunosc intigraphy have become standards for the diagnosis of rectal disease, staging of neoplasia, and survey of therapeutic results. The indicatio ns, limitations, anal relative costs of current imaging methods are re viewed, and advances in imaging technology that promise future benefit s to colorectal surgeons are introduced. Semin. Surg. Oncol. 15:72-77, 1998. (C) 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.