Magnetic resonance imaging of the pelvis

doi:10.1136/bmj.320.7247.1419

BMJ 2000;320:1419-1420 ( 27 May )

Editorials

Magnetic resonance imaging of the pelvis

Better techniques can help determine management and predict outcome

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

O ver the past decade several clinical applications of magnetic resonance imaging have been developed for benign and malignantconditions of the pelvis. The production of easily recognisablemultiplanar images of high soft tissue contrast $---$ without the operatordependence of ultrasonography or the ionising radiation of computedtomography $---$ well suit magnetic resonance imaging for such tasks.Attractive though the technique appears, we must demand more fromsuch an expensive $---$ and still scarce $---$ resource.

The applications of magnetic resonance imaging in the pelvis have received great scrutiny. Several large prospective studieshave been performed comparing pelvic magnetic resonance with surgicalspecimens sectioned and analysed in the planes used for imaging.Its diagnostic performance is thus well validated for cancer ofthe rectum, cervix, and prostate.^1-3 Its key advantage is predictionof local extension of cancer beyond the primary organ. Here, magneticresonance imaging competes with tried and tested clinical methodssuch . . . [Full text of this article]

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