Association between Dynamic Contrast-Enhanced MRI Parameters and Prognostic Factors in Patients with Primary Rectal Cancer

Background: To evaluate the association between perfusion parameters derived from dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) with prognostic factors in primary rectal cancer patients. Methods: A sample of 51 patients with pathologically proven rectal adenocarcinoma through surgery were retrospectively enrolled. All the patients underwent preoperative DCE-MRI including 3D-spoiled gradient echo. Two radiologists determined the tumor border after radiologic–pathologic correlation and drew regions of interest. The perfusion parameters, including the volume transfer constant (K(trans)), were calculated under the extended Toft model. The prognostic factors included TN stage, circumferential resection margin, extramural venous invasion, Kirsten-ras mutation, tumor size, carcinoembryonic antigen, and tumor differentiation. The association was assessed via correlation or t-test. For significant prognostic factors, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analyses were performed to estimate the diagnostic predictive values. Results: K(trans) only showed a significant difference according to tumor differentiation, between the well-differentiated (n = 6) and moderately differentiated (n = 45) groups (0.127 ± 0.032, 0.084 ± 0.036, p = 0.036). The AUC was 0.838 (95% CI, 0.702–0.929), and the estimated accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity were 87%, 90%, and 60%, respectively. Conclusions: K(trans) showed a significant difference based on tumor differentiation, which may be conducive to prediction of prognosis in primary rectal cancer.