Australian Government - Department of Health and Ageing

Medical Services Advisory Committee (MSAC)

Application 1110

MRI for staging of rectal carcinoma

Application No.

1110

Application NameMRI for staging of rectal carcinoma
Advisory PanelDr Michael Cleary
(Chair and MSAC member)
Dr David Gillespie
(MSAC member)
Dr Niall Tebbutt
(Medical Oncology Group of Australia)
Mr Brian Stafford
(Consumer Health Forum Nominee)
Dr K Chip Farmer
(Royal Australasian College of Surgeons)
Dr Jeremy Sharr
(Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologists)
Date Received by MSAC Secretariat12 September 2006
Stage 1 - EligibilityEligible
Stage 2 - AssessmentCompleted
Stage 3 - Formulation of Advice to the MinisterMSAC has considered the safety, effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for the initial staging, restaging and diagnosis of recurrence of rectal carcinoma in addition to conventional imaging.

MSAC finds that MRI for the initial staging, restaging and diagnosis of recurrence of rectal carcinoma is safe.

MSAC finds MRI for the initial staging of rectal cancer to be effective because MRI is able to define the circumferential resection margin of rectal carcinoma, which is highly predictive of the rate of local recurrence.

MSAC finds that MRI for the initial staging of rectal carcinoma is likely to be cost-effective.

MSAC recommends that public funding is supported for the initial staging of rectal carcinoma by MRI. There is insufficient evidence to support public funding for the restaging and diagnosis of recurrence of rectal carcinoma by MRI.
Stage 4 - Decision
Noting of MSAC advice by the Minister does not constitute a final decision in relation to the provision of public funding.		MSAC considered this assessment on 6 June 2008.
The Minister noted MSAC's advice on 28 August 2008.
Stage 5 - ImplementationImplemented