The added value of pelvic surveillance by MRI during postoperative follow-up of rectal cancer, with a focus on abbreviated MRI.

• The addition of MRI to the postoperative surveillance protocol improved the diagnostic yield in patients at a high risk of recurrence. • Abbreviated non-enhanced MRI with DWI allows detection of pelvic recurrence with a diagnostic accuracy that is similar to that of contrast-enhanced MRI (AUC, 0.99 and 0.98, respectively; p = 0.12). • Abbreviated MRI that is restricted to high spatial resolution structural imaging and diffusion-weighted imaging takes less time and can be carried out without the need for injection of a contrast agent.