Gloria,
Please keep in mind that I am NOT a doctor so please be sure to ask your onc or surgeon to specifically and in terms you can understand, interpret the results of both of these exams.
First of all, this MRI appears to ONLY be a rectal MRI.....meaning it didn't look at (or at least based on what you typed) the abdominal,chest area or the entire pelvic area. IF it had been done on those other areas, there would have been some mention of what, if anything, they saw in the lungs, liver, distant lymph nodes,kidneys etc. That is why you are still having a CT scan. I also wanted to tell you that when you have the CT, don't be alarmed if there are a lot of findings....totally UNRELATED to cancer! For example, when I was diagnosed, I was told that I had a kidney stone but, of course, the report didn't refer to it simply as a kidney stone. Mine was referenced as a left renal calculus...which totally freaked me out until I talked with my doctor....a simply kidney stone. That same initial CT exam also mentioned that one lobe of my liver was enlarged which again was not significant.....and no mets. One of my reports, much later in the process, showed that I had arthritis in my spine...but again, of course, they don't say it in those terms. Just be prepared to find out you likely have some or many other findings which the CT report will entail that may not have anything to do with the cancer.
The MRI confirmed that there are NO local nodes which is a good sign. It also confirmed that the tumor is a T2 although it did put the tumor much lower down (1.9) cm than the ultrasound did. This most recent test is more specific where the tumor is in relation to the sphincter muscles. The sphincters are circular muscles, at the beginning of your anal canal that control your bowel movements. These are the muscles that help a person hold in a bowel movement or stop a person from passing gas. A person has both internal and external sphincter muscles. From what I can interpret, your tumor invades the INTERNAL sphincters and the thin layer of fat between the two sphincters. The report states that it doesn't appear that the tumor invades the external sphincter BUT.....there are subtle findings that may suggest it does.
The reality of this MRI report is that it quite clearly states that the tumor is within the sphincter area of the anus itself. That means that the tumor is lower than expected and encompasses the sphincter muscle itself.
https://healthiack.com/encyclopedia/pic ... r-externalIt is extremely unlikely that even a colorectal surgeon would be able to save anything because once the sphincters themselves are affected, they would need to be taken out. However, there are always new surgeries/approaches, etc. that may be done rather than immediately performing an ostomy surgery. I would HIGHLY suggest that you seek out the services of a BOARD CERTIFIED Colon/rectal surgeon. Please understand that even a general surgeon can and will perform this surgery but, again, IMO, you WANT and NEED the services of a board certified colorectal surgeon. Research the surgeon's credentials. Verify (I will attach a link) that the surgeon is indeed board certified in colon/rectal surgery and not just a general surgeon who says that he/she 'specializes' in this surgical area.
Recap: the MRI basically reinforces that your tumor is a T2 and that there are no local lymph nodes affected. The MRI also shows that the tumor is lower down than the ultrasound (and the doctor who performed the doctor) stated. It appears that your tumor is located on the left anterior wall of the rectum and not the other side.
The next step will be the CT test which will look at the chest/abdomen/pelvis. The MRI may only have been a rectal MRI and didn't look at the entire pelvis. You may also want to make sure that your onc orders some specific blood tests....a CEA which is a tumor marker test and a full blood panel. Just a bit of preemptive information. MANY people have very normal CEA tests (within normal limits) even though they have a big tumor. Do NOT assume that if you have a normal CEA test that it means the tumor isn't really cancerous. A normal CEA test simply means that YOUR tumor doesn't express the protein that the tests is looking for.
Please keep us updated. When is the CT scheduled for??