Whereas there currently exist a lack of consensus as to which staging modality should be considered as the gold standard for local staging of the tumour (T) and detection of lymph node involvement (N), the use of multi-parametric Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) of the pelvis has been endorsed by international guidelines (NCCN, ESMO/ESTRO).

An expert panel of radiologist and radiation oncologists with expertise in anal cancer diagnosis and treatment identified by the Anal Staging Subgroup of the International Rare Cancer Incentive (IRCI) will be invited to participate. The panelists will be assigned into groups based on the geographical location and local practice. Each panelist will be provided with access to a series of anonymized MRI datasets of patients with newly diagnosed anal cancer and asked to provide a TNM stage as well as to identify sites of involved nodes (using a standardised proforma – Appendix1).