A systematic review and meta-analysis of preoperative MRI-based pelvimetry in predicting surgical difficulty in rectal cancer: Implications for personalised surgical planning.
Daichi Kitaguchi, Fiona R Kolbinger, Paul Dipanjyoti et al.
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In 30 seconds
This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated the role of MRI-based pelvimetry in predicting surgical difficulty during total mesorectal excision (TME) for rectal cancer, involving 8,364 patients across 36 studies. It found that shorter interspinous distance (ISD) and intertuberous distance (ITD) were significantly associated with increased surgical difficulty, with mean differences of -5.13 mm and -7.32 mm, respectively.
Key findings
- Shorter ISD was associated with surgical difficulty, with a mean difference of -5.13 mm.
- Shorter ITD correlated with surgical difficulty, showing a mean difference of -7.32 mm.
- Thirty studies had concerns regarding risk of bias, with five showing high risk.
- Definitions of surgical difficulty varied significantly across studies.
Why it matters
Understanding the predictive value of MRI-based pelvimetry can enhance surgical planning for rectal cancer, potentially leading to improved patient outcomes by anticipating surgical challenges.
What to keep in mind
Methodological heterogeneity among studies limits broader quantitative synthesis and the applicability of findings.