Figure 1

MR images of the 'false negative' case in the group with a compliant protocol. A-63-year-old female with rectal cancer involving the mesorectal fascia, peritoneal reflection and the parietal pelvic fascia. Imaging parameters: TR; 4056, TE; 130, NEX; 2, Thickness; 5 mm, Gap; 0 mm, FOV; 240 mm. (a) Sagittal T2-w image of the pelvis. Primary lesion is located at the rectosigmoid junction with an extramural component, extending dorsally toward the presacral fascia (arrowhead). The tumor seems to be very distant from the inner genitalia (arrow). b-e) Axial T2-w images demonstrated in a craniocaudal direction with b being the uppermost image. In b, the extramural component reaches and thickens the peritoneal fold (arrow), and more inferiorly even the pelvic side wall fascia (arrowheads in c). This fascial thickening continues (arrowheads in d, 15 mm below b), until it sweeps forward (arrow in e, 25 mm below b) and at this point the inner genitalia were involved. At the first glance, there appears to be no continuity between the tumor and the mesorectal fascia, however, histopathological examination proved tumor cells inside the fibrotic tissue and infiltrating the uterine parenchyma and the left adenxa (arrowhead in e).