• Regina G H Beets-Tan, Doenja M J Lambregts, Monique Maas, Shandra Bipat, Brunella Barbaro, Filipe Caseiro-Alves, Luís Curvo-Semedo, Helen M Fenlon, Marc J Gollub, Sofia Gourtsoyianni, Steve Halligan, Christine Hoeffel, Seung Ho Kim, Andrea Laghi, Andrea Maier, Søren R Rafaelsen, Jaap Stoker, Stuart A Taylor, Michael R Torkzad, and Lennart Blomqvist.
• Maastricht University Medical Centre+, Maastricht, The Netherlands. r.beets.tan@mumc.nl
• Eur Radiol. 2013 Sep 1; 23 (9): 2522-31.

ObjectivesTo develop guidelines describing a standardised approach regarding the acquisition, interpretation and reporting of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for clinical staging and restaging of rectal cancer.MethodsA consensus meeting of 14 abdominal imaging experts from the European Society of Gastrointestinal and Abdominal Radiology (ESGAR) was conducted following the RAND-UCLA Appropriateness Method. Two independent (non-voting) chairs facilitated the meeting. Two hundred and thirty-six items were scored by participants for appropriateness and classified subsequently as appropriate or inappropriate (defined by ≥ 80 % consensus) or uncertain (defined by < 80 % consensus). Items not reaching 80 % consensus were noted.ResultsConsensus was reached for 88 % of items: recommendations regarding hardware, patient preparation, imaging sequences, angulation, criteria for MRI assessment and MRI reporting were constructed from these.ConclusionsThese expert consensus recommendations can be used as clinical guidelines for primary staging and restaging of rectal cancer using MRI.Key Points• These guidelines recommend standardised imaging for staging and restaging of rectal cancer. • The guidelines were constructed through consensus amongst 14 abdominal imaging experts. • Consensus was reached by in 88 % of 236 items discussed.

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