Faster and improved MRI of rectal tumors with a two sequence protocol based on high-resolution free-breathing post-contrast 3D SPGR imaging with comparison to standard care.

Conventional protocols for MRI staging of rectal tumors include multiple planes of T2-weighted imaging in addition to DWI and T1-weighted sequences, requiring 30-40 min to acquire. To decrease the time of these studies, we compared a conventional protocol to a 10-min fast protocol that utilized a single sequence of T2-weighted imaging in combination with a high-resolution free-breathing post-contrast 3D SPGR sequence. Two readers assessed imaging findings and assessed confidence scores from 20 patient cases. Despite greatly reduced acquisition time, the fast protocol demonstrated a significantly increased confidence in T and N staging, and a non-significant trend toward improved clinical staging.

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