Reliability in villous tumors staging between preoperative MRI and histopathological examination

This study aimed to assess the reliability of rectal villous tumors staging between rectal MRI and histological examination used as the Gold Standard and to investigate causes for discrepancies. The rectal 1.5 T MR scans of 40 patients followed for a histologically proven rectal villous adenoma were retrospectively included. Two independent experienced radiologists staged each tumor according to the TNM classification and described the occurrence of retraction of the rectal wall or spiculations within the associated mesorectum. A third radiologist collected tumor’s morphological characteristics. Among the 40 villous tumors studied, 25 (63%) were non-invasive and 15 (37%) were invasive. The mean volume of tumors with spiculations and retraction was significantly greater (p