Stephanie T. Nin-Felipe, Servicio de Coloproctología, Hospital General de México “Dr. Eduardo Liceaga”, Ciudad de México, México
Juan A. Villanueva-Herrero, Departamento de Fisiología Anorrectal y Piso Pélvico, Hospital General de México Dr. Eduardo Liceaga, Ciudad de México, México
Jeziel Ordóñez-Juárez, Anorectal Physiology Unit, Coloproctology Service, Hospital General de México “Dr. Eduardo Liceaga”, Mexico City, Mexico
Lisbeth Alarcón-Bernes, Coloproctology, Hospital Ángeles Universidad, Mexico City, Mexico
Sergio U. Pérez-Escobedo, Coloproctology Service, Hospital General de México “Dr. Eduardo Liceaga", Mexico City, Mexico
Noelia B. Fernández-Baez, Coloproctology, Hospital Ángeles Universidad, Mexico City, Mexico
Billy Jiménez-Bobadilla, Colorectal Cancer Clinic, Coloproctology Service, Hospital General de México “Dr. Eduardo Liceaga”, Mexico City, Mexico
Carlos A. López-Bernal, Unidad de Fisiología Anorrectal y Piso Pélvico, Hospital General de México “Dr. Eduardo Liceaga”, Ciudad de México, México
Objective: To determine whether there is a correlation between measurements taken by rigid rectosigmoidoscopy (RSCR) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for assessing the distal margin of middle and lower rectal tumors and to ascertain whether both studies can be interchangeable. Methods: This retrospective study included patients with rectal cancer. These patients underwent RSCR, computed tomography scans, and MRI as part of the staging protocol. Patients with incomplete records, those absent from any of the mentioned studies, or those requiring emergency surgery due to perforation or tumor obstruction were excluded. Results: A total of 22 patients were included. The lower margin of the tumor measured by RSCR was found to be an average of 5.7 cm from the anal margin (± 2.29). The correlation between the lower margin of the tumor measured by RSCR and MRI evaluated by a coloproctologist showed a correlation coefficient of 0.653, whereas a specialist in MRI reported a correlation of 0.709, both with p < 0.05. Conclusions: In patients for whom RSCR cannot be performed to measure the tumor, MRI can be used to obtain the distance from the lower margin to the anal verge and guide the type of surgical procedure.
Keywords: Rectal tumor. Rectosigmoidoscopy. Magnetic resonance imaging.
