Fig. 11

Axial T2-weighted images of two rectal cancer patients; a 63-year-old male patient with a cT1-2 rectal tumour (a; tumour not shown) an another 83-year-old female patient with a cT3cd tumour (b). The image in A is a cross section just above the level of the tumour in the rectal wall and shows a small vessel radiating outwards from the muscularis propria into the perirectal fat (white arrows). The vessel has a normal contour and low T2 signal; there are no signs of EMVI. The image in b shows a semicircular tumour that involves the rectal wall from 7 till 1 o’clock. The intermediate signal of the tumour extends into the adjacent vessels. The vessels is expanded, and the vessel contour is disrupted. These are all signs indicative of EMVI