Title: Predictive value of lesion morphology in rectal cancer based on MRI before surgery
Version: 2 Date: 11 Jul 2023
Reviewer's report:
is retrospective study aimed to analyze the MRI morphological characteristics of primary tumors
in rectal cancer and identify significant correlations with several adverse prognostic indicators.
The researchers further developed multiple nomograms based on these findings. Overall, this
paper offers valuable insights and presents important results. One notable strength of this study is
its ability to establish associations between specific MRI findings and histopathological features.
However, it is worth mentioning that several issues still remain unresolved in my opinion:
1.The manuscript extensively employs abbreviations, which presented a considerable challenge
for me to comprehend the content. Remembering and constantly referring back to the definitions
of these abbreviations proved to be quite difficult. Therefore, I recommend reducing the overall
reliance on abbreviations, particularly for those with lower usage frequency.
2.Please provide a clear definition for the abbreviation "HRT2WI" when it first appears.
3.Did the patient undergo any bowel preparation prior to the MRI scan? Please provide this
additional information.
4.In the "2.2. MRI technique" section, I did not see any mention of bowel preparation and
precautions for rectal cancer patients before MRI scans. Please include relevant information.
5.There is a spelling error in the definition of "hEMVI" in the captions below Figure 1 and Table
1. Please correct it.
6.Is the result in Table 3 the multivariable logistic regression analysis results after adjusting for
confounding factors? If it is, please provide an explanation in the statistical analysis section on
how the confounding factors were adjusted.
7.The usage of "a" and "the" throughout the manuscript needs to be accurately reviewed and
corrected. Additionally, some sentences in the discussion section are excessively long and
difficult to understand, and therefore, should be simplified.
8.Although this study primarily utilized oblique axial HRT2WI to observe various MRI
parameters, I believe that oblique coronal and sagittal HRT2WI also hold important value in this
paper. Therefore, I recommend including a description of the parameters and scanning methods
for these two sequences as well.
9.The English tenses in the Figure legends should be consistent.
10.Why was rectal mucinous adenocarcinoma excluded? Please provide an explanation for the
reason.
Title: Predictive value of lesion morphology in rectal cancer based on MRI before surgery
Version: 2 Date: 11 Jul 2023
Reviewer's report:
is retrospective study aimed to analyze the MRI morphological characteristics of primary tumors
in rectal cancer and identify significant correlations with several adverse prognostic indicators.
The researchers further developed multiple nomograms based on these findings. Overall, this
paper offers valuable insights and presents important results. One notable strength of this study is
its ability to establish associations between specific MRI findings and histopathological features.
However, it is worth mentioning that several issues still remain unresolved in my opinion:
1.The manuscript extensively employs abbreviations, which presented a considerable challenge
for me to comprehend the content. Remembering and constantly referring back to the definitions
of these abbreviations proved to be quite difficult. Therefore, I recommend reducing the overall
reliance on abbreviations, particularly for those with lower usage frequency.
2.Please provide a clear definition for the abbreviation "HRT2WI" when it first appears.
3.Did the patient undergo any bowel preparation prior to the MRI scan? Please provide this
additional information.
4.In the "2.2. MRI technique" section, I did not see any mention of bowel preparation and
precautions for rectal cancer patients before MRI scans. Please include relevant information.
5.There is a spelling error in the definition of "hEMVI" in the captions below Figure 1 and Table
1. Please correct it.
6.Is the result in Table 3 the multivariable logistic regression analysis results after adjusting for
confounding factors? If it is, please provide an explanation in the statistical analysis section on
how the confounding factors were adjusted.
7.The usage of "a" and "the" throughout the manuscript needs to be accurately reviewed and
corrected. Additionally, some sentences in the discussion section are excessively long and
difficult to understand, and therefore, should be simplified.
8.Although this study primarily utilized oblique axial HRT2WI to observe various MRI
parameters, I believe that oblique coronal and sagittal HRT2WI also hold important value in this
paper. Therefore, I recommend including a description of the parameters and scanning methods
for these two sequences as well.
9.The English tenses in the Figure legends should be consistent.
10.Why was rectal mucinous adenocarcinoma excluded? Please provide an explanation for the
reason.
Please review this paper.
user
Title: Predictive value of lesion morphology in rectal cancer based on MRI before surgery
Version: 2 Date: 11 Jul 2023
Reviewer's report:
is retrospective study aimed to analyze the MRI morphological characteristics of primary tumors
in rectal cancer and identify significant correlations with several adverse prognostic indicators.
The researchers further developed multiple nomograms based on these findings. Overall, this
paper offers valuable insights and presents important results. One notable strength of this study is
its ability to establish associations between specific MRI findings and histopathological features.
However, it is worth mentioning that several issues still remain unresolved in my opinion:
1.The manuscript extensively employs abbreviations, which presented a considerable challenge
for me to comprehend the content. Remembering and constantly referring back to the definitions
of these abbreviations proved to be quite difficult. Therefore, I recommend reducing the overall
reliance on abbreviations, particularly for those with lower usage frequency.
2.Please provide a clear definition for the abbreviation "HRT2WI" when it first appears.
3.Did the patient undergo any bowel preparation prior to the MRI scan? Please provide this
additional information.
4.In the "2.2. MRI technique" section, I did not see any mention of bowel preparation and
precautions for rectal cancer patients before MRI scans. Please include relevant information.
5.There is a spelling error in the definition of "hEMVI" in the captions below Figure 1 and Table
1. Please correct it.
6.Is the result in Table 3 the multivariable logistic regression analysis results after adjusting for
confounding factors? If it is, please provide an explanation in the statistical analysis section on
how the confounding factors were adjusted.
7.The usage of "a" and "the" throughout the manuscript needs to be accurately reviewed and
corrected. Additionally, some sentences in the discussion section are excessively long and
difficult to understand, and therefore, should be simplified.
8.Although this study primarily utilized oblique axial HRT2WI to observe various MRI
parameters, I believe that oblique coronal and sagittal HRT2WI also hold important value in this
paper. Therefore, I recommend including a description of the parameters and scanning methods
for these two sequences as well.
9.The English tenses in the Figure legends should be consistent.
10.Why was rectal mucinous adenocarcinoma excluded? Please provide an explanation for the
reason.
assistant