为了探索专门虚拟培训课程对直肠癌磁共振成像分期置信度和表现的潜在影响。四十二名放射科医生完成了一项分步式虚拟培训课程，该课程涵盖了直肠癌磁共振成像分期的预课程（基线测试，7个测试病例，包括5个分期和2个重新分期）、为期一天的在线研讨会、为期一个月的个体病例阅读（共70个病例，包括在线反馈）、由两名专家教师进行监督的在线反馈会议和课程后的测试。全程课程都使用了ESGAR分期结构化报告模板。比较了预课程和课程后的测试结果，包括群体间观察者一致性（Krippendorf's alpha）、分期置信度（感知分期难度）和诊断准确性（使用专家参考标准）。虽然结果在很大程度上并不具备统计学意义，但绝大多数分期变量在课程后的诊断准确性上都表现出轻微的增加，增幅在2%到17%之间。对于群体间观察者一致性也观察到了类似的趋势，在比较预课程和课程后时，几乎所有变量的一致性都得到了改善。感知难度水平显著降低（p = 0.03），表明课程完成后的诊断自信度得到了提高。虽然该研究的性质是探索性的，但结果表明使用专门虚拟培训课程和网络平台有潜力提高直肠癌磁共振成像分期的表现、置信度和观察者间一致性，因此可以作为传统培训的一种良好替代（或补充）方式。直肠癌磁共振成像报告质量高度依赖于放射科医生的专业知识，强调了专门培训和教学的必要性。本研究对于虚拟基于网络的培训计划取得了令人鼓舞的结果，可以作为传统培训的良好替代（或补充）方式。• 直肠癌的磁共振成像报告质量高度依赖于放射科医生的专业知识，强调了专门培训和教学的必要性。• 使用专门虚拟培训课程和基于网络的平台，取得了鼓舞人心的初步结果，改善了分期准确性、诊断自信度和观察者一致性。• 这些探索性结果表明，虚拟培训因此可以作为传统培训的一种良好替代（或补充）方式。© 2023. The Author(s).

To explore the potential impact of a dedicated virtual training course on MRI staging confidence and performance in rectal cancer.Forty-two radiologists completed a stepwise virtual training course on rectal cancer MRI staging composed of a pre-course (baseline) test with 7 test cases (5 staging, 2 restaging), a 1-day online workshop, 1 month of individual case readings (n = 70 cases with online feedback), a live online feedback session supervised by two expert faculty members, and a post-course test. The ESGAR structured reporting templates for (re)staging were used throughout the course. Results of the pre-course and post-course test were compared in terms of group interobserver agreement (Krippendorf's alpha), staging confidence (perceived staging difficulty), and diagnostic accuracy (using an expert reference standard).Though results were largely not statistically significant, the majority of staging variables showed a mild increase in diagnostic accuracy after the course, ranging between + 2% and + 17%. A similar trend was observed for IOA which improved for nearly all variables when comparing the pre- and post-course. There was a significant decrease in the perceived difficulty level (p = 0.03), indicating an improved diagnostic confidence after completion of the course.Though exploratory in nature, our study results suggest that use of a dedicated virtual training course and web platform has potential to enhance staging performance, confidence, and interobserver agreement to assess rectal cancer on MRI virtual training and could thus be a good alternative (or addition) to in-person training.Rectal cancer MRI reporting quality is highly dependent on radiologists' expertise, stressing the need for dedicated training/teaching. This study shows promising results for a virtual web-based training program, which could be a good alternative (or addition) to in-person training.• Rectal cancer MRI reporting quality is highly dependent on radiologists' expertise, stressing the need for dedicated training and teaching. • Using a dedicated virtual training course and web-based platform, encouraging first results were achieved to improve staging accuracy, diagnostic confidence, and interobserver agreement. • These exploratory results suggest that virtual training could thus be a good alternative (or addition) to in-person training.© 2023. The Author(s).