Table 3.
Tumour descriptors and their inclusion on prose and template with statistical differences between the report styles included
| Total number of free-text reports including the variable/total number of free-text reports (%) | Total number of template reports including the variable/total number of template reports (%) | Fisher’s exact test p value | Critical p value | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tumour | Vertical location | 248/279 (89%) | 79/81 (98%) | 0.0154 | 0.0100 |
| Length | 233/279 (84%) | 79/81 (98%) | 0.0004 | 0.0050 | |
| Distance from the anal verge | 227/279 (81%) | 78/81 (96%) | 0.0004 | 0.0056 | |
| Shape | 181/279 (65%) | 79/81 (98%) | 0.0000 | 0.0033 | |
| Radial location of wall involvement* | 96/207 (46%) | 60/63 (95%) | 0.0000 | 0.0029 | |
| MRI signal | 36/279 (13%) | 78/81 (96%) | 0.0000 | 0.0023 | |
| Relationship to peritoneal reflection | 75/279 (26.9) | 77/81 (95%) | 0.0000 | 0.0024 | |
| T stage | 261/279 (94%) | 79/81 (98%) | 0.2684 | 0.0167 | |
| If ≥ T3 | Distance through muscularis propria* | 60/169 (36%) | 54/58 (93%) | 0.0000 | 0.0028 |
| MRF | MRF status | 184/279 (66%) | 78/81 (96%) | 0.0000 | 0.0036 |
| If threatened/involved, by what* | 111/118 (94%) | 49/49 (100%) | 0.1069 | 0.0125 | |
| Minimum distance to the MRF* | 60/108 (56%) | 36/43 (84%) | 0.0013 | 0.0063 | |
| Location closest to MRF | 85/279 (31%) | 58/81 (72%) | 0.0000 | 0.0031 | |
| If ≥ T4 | Which organs involved* | 33/41 (81%) | 42/42 (100%) | 0.0024 | 0.0071 |
| Nodes | Nodal status | 268/279 (96%) | 80/81 (99%) | 0.3125 | 0.0250 |
| Location of involved nodes* | 157/164 (96%) | 50/51 (98%) | 0.6835 | 0.0500 | |
| Radial location of mesorectal nodal involvement* | 81/156 (52%) | 44/50 (88%) | 0.0000 | 0.0045 | |
| Superior location of node involvement* | 25/156 (16%) | 44/48 (92%) | 0.0000 | 0.0025 | |
| EMVI | EMVI status | 144/279 (52%) | 80/81 (99%) | 0.0000 | 0.0026 |
| EMVI radial and/or superior location* | 37/79 (47%) | 34/36 (94%) | 0.0000 | 0.0042 | |
| Metastases | Metastatic status* | 71/199 (36%) | 36/45 (80%) | 0.0000 | 0.0038 |
| Overall predicted stage | 249/279 (89%) | 80/81 (99%) | 0.0056 | 0.0083 | |
*Tumour descriptors with appropriate report exclusions allowed depending on the tumour features (e.g. the absence of a distance through the muscularis propria was considered acceptable for T1/T2 tumours or not stating which organs are involved by tumour with T1–3 staging, or radial location of wall involvement for annular tumours)
MRF mesorectal fascia, EMVI extra-mural venous invasion