Correlation analysis of MR/CT on colorectal cancer lymph node metastasis characteristics and prognosis

OBJECTIVE: Colorectal cancer incidence showed increasing trend with living standard improvement and lifestyle changes. This study investigated the relationship and diagnostic value of colorectal cancer lymph node metastasis and prognosis using magnetic resonance (MR) and computed tomography (CT). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Siemens Avan-to 3.0T MR and GE Light Speed Pro 64 row helical CT were used to scan 318 cases of colorectal cancer patients diagnosed by pathology. The relationship between colorectal cancer lymph node metastasis and prognosis after surgery was analyzed. RESULTS: The accuracy of MR and CT in judging colorectal cancer lymph node metastasis ratio (LNR) was 92.5% and 75.5%, respectively. MR showed significantly higher accuracy than CT (p < 0.05). The coincidence rate of LNR result derived from MR and CT with colorectal cancer histopathological results was 57.6% and 54.7%, respectively. MR and CT sensitivity were 42.6% and 25.0%, while their specificity was 74.1% and 41.3%, respectively. The positive predictive value and negative predictive value of MR and CT were 61.1% and 51.4%, 57.1% and 66.7%, respectively. chi(2)-test showed that MR diagnosis result was consistent with histopathological result (p < 0.05). The coincidence rate of MR and CT evaluation on 5-year disease-free survival and overall survival were 56.7% and 43.8%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: MR showed a better effect on prognosis than CT and could be treated as the first choice to predict LNR and prognosis. MR demonstrated a good correlation with pathological results and could be used to predict LNR and prognosis.