Rectal Tumor Stiffness Quantified by In Vivo Tomoelastography and Collagen Content Estimated by Histopathology Predict Tumor Aggressiveness

Abstract

In human rectal carcinomas, overexpression of collagen is correlated with increased tissue stiffness and high risk for tumor advancing more aggressively. <i>In vivo</i> tomoelastography quantifies rectal tumor stiffness which improves the diagnostic performance of standard MRI in the assessment of lymph nodes metastasis. Therefore, <i>in vivo</i> stiffness mapping by tomoelastography can predict rectal tumor aggressiveness and add diagnostic value to MRI.