Objective: Inadequate sampling may result in understaging in colorectal cancer. Fat clearance techniques and whole mount sections are time consuming and costly. We hypothesise that high resolution Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) of the colorectal cancer specimen may aid histological sampling and result in upstaging. Method: Patients undergoing resection are prospectively recruited, and randomised to "conventional histology" or "MRI assisted histology". In addition to routinely selected tumour blocks, 4 additional blocks and any additional lymph nodes are selected with the aid of specimen MRI or visual inspection and palpation according to group. T stage, depth of extramural invasion, distance to resection margin, lymph node (LN) number and involved LN are compared between the two groups. Results: To date, 116 of 218 patients have been recruited. We present the methods and preliminary results. There is a trend towards greater T stage and LN yield. No difference in N stage, extra-mural vascular invasion or involved non-peritonealised resection margin has yet been observed. Conclusion: Early results suggest that specimen MRI may upstage colorectal cancer specimens by aiding tumour block selection. We will complete recruitment of 218 colorectal cancer patients over the next 12 months to determine whether observed differences are significant.