Meaning of MRI findings
June 23, 2018 | 30,00 EUR | answered by Dr. med. Ive Dr. Schaaf
Today we received this MRI report and would like to know what it means.
The examination shows a focal rectal lesion in the form of circumferential thickening of the rectal wall and a decrease in the lumen.
The image has a longitudinal extension of approximately 43 mm, located in the perirectal fat, with a distance to the inner edge of the sphincter of about 15 mm and to the surface of the anus of 44 mm.
There are no lymphadenopathies of significant size. In the sagittal projection, there is a direct connection with the posterior part of the prostate gland, with a hypointense zone that, I believe, corresponds to the seminal vesicles and does not show infiltration.
Good morning,
I assume that this is a translation. It describes a thickening of the rectal wall - the wall of the last section of the intestine just before the rectum and under "decrease of light" it is probably meant that the area in question is of higher density than the intestinal wall, so not a liquid, but a relatively solid tissue. The change is described as circumferential, which means "it goes around the intestinal wall like a cuff all around". The described distances - 15 mm to the internal sphincter and 44 mm to the anus describe the distance from the outer rectum exit (anus) and the internal sphincter. The distance to the internal sphincter is described in relation to whether the sphincter could remain intact in a possible surgery. The size of the change (basically the length of the cuff) is given as 43 mm and the location of the thickening is described as being in the adjacent fatty tissue rather than in the wall.
No altered lymph nodes were found and no direct connection to the prostate. The hypodense zone is an area with increased fluid, the examiner assumes that it is the seminal vesicles.
In summary:
Cuff-shaped, solid (made of tissue and not fluid) change of the last section of the intestine 44 mm from the anus. Due to the slightly different location information, I would assume that the change is not "in", but "on" the rectal wall, but that is interpretation.
If you have any further questions, please feel free to ask.
Kind regards,
Dr. Schaaf
