Table 3:

Comparison of NCCN and American College of Radiology Strategies for Initial Radiologic Staging of Rectal and Anal Cancers

Note.—PET = positron emission tomography.

*CT with both intravenous and oral contrast agent administration.

^†Endorectal US suggested for superficial tumors; limited by high rectal cancers and obstructing cancers.

^‡PET/CT may be used to troubleshoot an equivocal finding or if there is a contraindication to contrast agent administration at CT.

^§PET/CT may be useful for higher T stage (T2–T4) tumors or if there are any positive nodes (N positive).