Rectal cancer is the second reason for cancer-related death worldwide and, can present with a variety of complications. An accurate preoperative diagnosis of these conditions is critical to ensure that prompt, proper, treatment is administered and the outcome will be effective. Fat stranding refers to an abnormally increased attenuation in fat and, is a very helpful signpost for intra-abdominal pathology. The pericolic fat stranding identified on computed tomography (CT) scans of rectal cancer has a significant relationship with the depth of invasion. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of Pericolic fat stranding on the survival of rectal cancer patients.

Overall, 453 patients with rectal cancer lesions were retrospectively evaluated for pericolic fat stranding in the CT report before any therapeutic intervention. Data were analyzed whit SPSS version 18.0 software, Potential prognostic factors were evaluated by univariate Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and p-value < 0.05 was set as a statistically significant

The study evaluated 453 rectal cancer patients, from 2007 to 2017, approximately 59.2% were males. The mean age at diagnosis was 58.25±14.65 years. The median survival time was 45 months 95% CI (29.97-59.56). Pericolic fat stranding was identified in 268 lesions (59.2%). The 1,3,5 and 10 years survival rate among RC patients without Pericolic fat stranding were 90%, 66%, 55%, and 45%, respectively, which was higher compared to patients with Pericolic fat stranding (p<0.001) [Figure 1].

Pericolic fat stranding detected in CT images of rectal cancer can be a predictive indicator of survival.