Abstract: High resolution magnetic resonance imaging (HRMRI) has become an indispensable tool for multidisciplinary teams addressing locally advanced rectal cancer. Preoperative HRMRI is accurate in predicting tumor stage and poor prognostic features, such as circumferential resection margin and extramural venous invasion, et al. HRMRI is a precise diagnostic tool to select who may benefit from neoadjuvant therapy and to avoid over treatment in those patients who can proceed directly to surgery, thus  achieving better prognosis and quality of life for patients with locally advanced rectal cancer.

Key words: Rectal neoplasms, Magnetic resonance imaging, Neoplasm staging, Prognosis