Early conformational changes at tumour bed and long term response after neoadjuvant therapy in locally-advanced rectal cancer

Highlights: • A scar depth angle increase > 21° between 1st and 2nd post-neoadjuvant therapt MRI is very specific for a non-sustained complete response. • Scar thickness >10 mm at 2nd post-neoadjuvant therapy MRI consistently indicates a non-sustained complete response with very high specificity. • In an era of Watch-and-Wait, scar thickness and depth angle MRI measurements may aid selection of patients for surgery after neoadjuvant therapy. To evaluate how changes in tumour scar depth angle and thickness in the post-neoadjuvant period relate to long-term response in locally-advanced rectal cancer patients.