A Comparative Study on the Quality of MRI Reporting in Primary Rectal Cancer

Background Rectal cancer is a widespread health concern in the UK, and MRI is vital for accurate diagnosis and effective treatment. To enhance the quality of MRI reports for rectal cancer, structured reporting can be utilized. Despite the existence of global guidelines and templates, there is a lack of use for standardized templates. Thus, this study seeks to assess and compare the quality of MRI reports in free text style for rectal cancer at a single hospital with international recommendations. Methodology We conducted a retrospective cohort study on adult patients diagnosed with primary rectal cancer and underwent an MRI of the rectum/pelvis. The study aimed to identify and compare the difference in reporting quality between in-house GI radiologists and out-of-hours outsourced reporting agencies. The quality of reporting was identified based on at least fifteen selected features recommended by the European Society of Gastrointestinal and Abdominal Radiology and the Society of Abdominal Radiology. The study was performed in a General and Colorectal Surgery Department in the North East of England. Results The study retrospectively analysed 94 reports of primary rectal cancer patients over three years. The quality of reporting was compared between in-house GI radiologists and out-of-hours outsourced reporting agencies. The results showed that in-house radiologists had better reporting quality than outsourced agencies in terms of TNM stage (TNM is a notation system that describes the stage of cancer), predicted extramural venous invasion (EMVI), mesorectal fascia involvement (MRF), T stage, and shape. No statistical significance was found for metastasis, node status, further MRF description, peritoneal reflection, or MRI signal. Conclusion The study found that local GI radiologists had better quality reporting than outsourced agencies for rectal cancer MRI reports, but still missed important features. A unified structured reporting template is recommended to improve the quality of MRI reporting for rectal cancer.