A flowchart showing our study design. ceMDCT, contrast-enhanced multidetector CT; CRT, chemoradiation therapy; mEMVI, extramural venous invasion; mM+, metachronous metastases; mN2+, pre-CRT mN2 stage; MRF+, mesorectal fascia; mT4, mT4 stage; N, number; PET, positron emission tomography; sM+, synchronous metastases; TRG, tumour regression grade; ypN, pathological nodal status after CRT.