Magnetic Resonance Imaging for Local Staging of Gastric Carcinoma

Abstract

MRI enables differentiation of gastric wall layers and, therefore, technically allows the evaluation of the local tumor stage of gastric carcinomas. However, infiltration of the subserosal and serosal layer cannot be proved accurately. Overstaging pT2 tumors is one of the most predominant problems. Yet further technical developments in high-resolution imaging of the gastric wall may improve T-staging in the near future and overcome today's staging limitations.