Crimì F, Spolverato G, Lacognata C, et al. - Researchers investigated the value of whole-body ¹⁸F-FDG–PET/MRI for predicting the pathological stage of locally advanced rectal cancer after preoperative chemoradiotherapy. In this prospective observational study, they assessed 36 patients with locally advanced rectal cancer (25 male, median age 68.5 years) with PET/MRI and thoracoabdominal CT before and after preoperative chemoradiotherapy. Pelvic MRI and CT were evaluated by one radiologist. PET/MRI was jointly assessed by a second radiologist and a nuclear medicine physician. A comparison of the imaging with histology or follow-up was done (ypT0 vs T ≥ 1 and ypN0 vs ypN+ categories). For ypT staging, an accuracy of 89% and 92%, and for ypN, an accuracy of 86% and 92% were reported for MRI and PET/MRI. PET/MRI vs CT led to a correct diagnosis of 4 of 5 metastases, but it did not lead to the detection of a lung metastatic nodule. The PET/MRI changed the treatment strategy in 11% of the patients.