Current and Future Imaging Paradigms in Colorectal Cancer

Imaging of molecular events in vivo is beginning to change how we evaluate and treat patients. This review focuses on several of the clinical and pre-clinical advances that are relevant to colorectal surgery. In particular, metabolic imaging by positron emission tomograpy, lymph node metastatic imaging by nanoparticle-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging, and fluorescent endoscopic and intraoperative imaging with activatable optical smart probes are detailed.