T2-weighted images are most useful for rectal cancer imaging. Correct planning is essential for staging purposes. • Axial planning (left): angle slices perpendicular to the rectum covering any visible tumours. • Coronal planning (right): angle slices parallel to the rectum covering any visible tumours. The pre-sacral space should be included in all scans in order to image the lymph nodes. The use of saturation bands will reduce artefacts from peristalsis, breathing and vascular pulsations.