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Insights into Imaging
Fig. 8 | Insights into Imaging

Fig. 8

From: Role of magnetic resonance imaging in organ-preserving strategies for the management of patients with rectal cancer

Fig. 8

The assessment of the intersphincteric plane safety. a Coronal T2WI shows the normal anal canal anatomy. The distal tapering of the mesorectal fat is shown by the black triangle that delineates the fat content on the upper portion or the dissection plane when low anterior resection is performed. b Coronal T2WI shows the distal edge of the lesion (arrow) above the intersphincteric plane. Low anterior resection is possible with no risk of margin positivity at this level. c Coronal T2WI shows the distal edge of the lesion lying in the plane of the levators. There is lateral spread with mucinous content on the left, threatening the intersphincteric plane (arrow). d High-resolution axial T2WI shows a residual low-lying lesion partially invading the muscularis propria (arrow). Intersphincteric resection would be safely performed. A clear resection margin was achieved

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