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AzTrials

Nasopharyngeal CarcinomaNPC-LNNCT05389306

Combining MRI and CEUS to Diagnose Small Cervical Lymph Node Metastases in NPC Patients

A study testing MRI Scanning, Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasonography and Ultrasound-guided Lymph Node Aspiration in people with Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma, run by Sun Yat-sen University at 1 site in China.

Completed

Finished. The study has ended and is not enrolling. Results may be posted on the official record.

Official record
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Trial summary

This is a single-center diagnostic accuracy study, with the purpose to define the criteria to diagnose small cervical lymph node metastases in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma by combining MRI scanning and contrast-enhanced ultrasonography and evaluate the diagnostic performance of the criteria. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 to 70 years
Conditions the study is for
Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma
What is being tested?
MRI Scanning, Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasonography and Ultrasound-guided Lymph Node Aspiration
Type of treatment
Injection or infusion
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
348 participants
Where
1 siteChina
Study dates
25 May 2022to 7 Nov 2023
Phase
Interventional
Are there results?
None posted in the registry

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 18 to 70 years
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status ≤1;
  • Patients with histologically confirmed nasopharyngeal carcinoma;
  • Tumor staged as T1-4, N0-1/N3, M0 (AJCC 8th);
  • On at least one side of the patient's neck, no metastatic lymph nodes were found on MRI according to the current diagnostic criteria, but there were small lymph nodes with a minimal axial diameter ≥ 5 mm (6 mm for lymph node in level IIA);
  • Patients must be informed of the investigational nature of this study and give written informed consent. And they should be willing and able to comply with the requirements of examination, treatment, follow-up and other research requirements stipulated in the research schedule.

Who cannot join

  • History of other malignant tumors, except for adequately treated basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and cervical carcinoma in situ;
  • Previous radiotherapy, except radiotherapy for non-melanoma skin cancer outside the neck or nasopharyngeal regions;
  • Patients with coexistent head and neck squamous cell carcinoma besides nasopharyngeal carcinoma;
  • Patients with coexistent acute inflammation or infection (including infection within the area for aspiration);
  • Previous surgery or trauma within the neck or nasopharyngeal regions;
  • Not suitable for aspiration due to abnormal coagulation function;
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  • All the candidate small lymph nodes with a minimal axial diameter ≥ 5 mm (6 mm for lymph node in level IIA) were not suitable for aspiration owing to high risk of severe complications after the aspiration;
  • Contraindications for the examination specified in the research schedule due to claustrophobia, the presence of metal implants or pacemaker, and allergic hypersensitivity to ultrasound contrast agents or MRI contrast agents;
  • Other situation assessed by the investigators that may compromise the safety or compliance of patients, such as serious disease requiring timely treatment (including mental illness), severe laboratory abnormalities, or family-social risk factors.

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country.

China1 site
  • Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center

    Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510060

Other trials in China

About this study

Official title: Combining MRI Scanning and Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasonography to Diagnose Small Cervical Lymph Node Metastases in Patients With Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma

This is a single-center diagnostic accuracy study, with the purpose to define the criteria to diagnose small cervical lymph node metastases in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma by combining MRI scanning and contrast-enhanced ultrasonography and evaluate the diagnostic performance of the criteria.

Read the detailed description

For newly diagnosed and histologically confirmed nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients staged as T1-4, N0-1/N3, M0 (AJCC 8th), if no metastatic lymph nodes were found on MRI according to the current diagnostic criteria, but there were small lymph nodes with a minimal axial diameter ≥ 5 mm (6 mm for lymph node in level IIA) on at least one side of the patient's neck, they will be eligible for this study. The MRI image of the small lymph nodes will be evaluated in details by experienced radiologists. Contrast-enhanced ultrasonography with specific ultrasound contrast agents (Sonazoid) and ultrasound-guided lymph node aspiration will be performed. Subsequently, the lymph node tissue obtained from ultrasound-guided lymph node aspiration will be subjected to pathologic evaluation. Using the pathologic diagnosis of the lymph node as the gold standard, diagnostic performance of MRI and contrast-enhanced ultrasonography will be evaluated. Resonable criteria to diagnose small cervical lymph node metastases by combining MRI scanning and contrast-enhanced ultrasonography will be explored. And the diagnostic performance of the criteria will be evaluated.

Being tested
MRI Scanning, Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasonography, Ultrasound-guided Lymph Node Aspiration
Keywords
Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma, Lymph Node, Diagnosis, Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasonography, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Sonazoid
Medical subject headings
Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma, Disease

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • MRI ScanningDiagnostic test

    MRI scanning will be performed with a 3.0-T magnetic resonance imaging system with a head and neck-combined coil employing spin-echo technique. The range of the MRI scanning will be from the suprasellar cistern to the inferior margin of the sternal end of the clavicle. The section thicknesses for the axial plane, the sagittal plane and the coronal plane will be 5 mm, 3 mm and 2 mm, respectively. The intersection gaps will be 1 mm. Before the intravenous injection of the MRI contrast agents, T1 weighted images, T2 weighted images and diffusion weighted images will be obtained in the axial planes, while only T1 weighted images will be obtained in the sagittal and coronal planes. After the intravenous injection of the MRI contrast agents, T1-weighted axial sequence, T1-weighted sagittal sequences and T1-weighted fat-suppressed coronal sequence will be performed.

  • Contrast-Enhanced UltrasonographyDiagnostic test

    A sonographer equipped with a 6-15 MHz linear array probe will be adopted for contrast-enhanced ultrasonography examination. Conventional high-frequency ultrasonography will be performed firstly before the intravenous injection of the ultrasound contrast agents. Then the ultrasound contrast agents will be injected intravenously, and contrast-enhanced ultrasonography examination will be performed. The mechanical index of contrast-enhanced ultrasonography examination will be 0.23. The wash-in and wash-out process within the lymph node will be dynamically observed during the arterial phase. During the Kupffer-phase, the degree of enhancement will also be observed.

  • Ultrasound-guided Lymph Node AspirationDiagnostic test

    After the conventional high-frequency ultrasonography and contrast-enhanced ultrasonography examination was finished, ultrasound-guided aspiration of the target lymph node will be performed. The lymph node tissue obtained from ultrasound-guided lymph node aspiration will be subjected to pathologic evaluation. And the diagnostic performance of MRI and contrast-enhanced ultrasonography will be evaluated using the pathologic diagnosis of the lymph node as the gold standard.

Study groups in NCT05389306
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
MRI Scanning and CEUS for detection of small cervical lymph node metastases.ExperimentalAll patients enrolled will undergo an MRI Scanning and CEUS to evaluate their cervical lymph nodes. Ultrasound-guided lymph node aspiration and pathologic examination will be performed subsequently to obtain definitive diagnosis of the lymph nodes. The pathologic results of the lymph nodes will be adopted as gold standard to evaluate the diagnostic performance of MRI Scanning, CEUS, and the combined diagnostic criteria.
Receives: Diagnostic Test: MRI Scanning; Diagnostic Test: Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasonography; Diagnostic Test: Ultrasound-guided Lymph Node Aspiration

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Combined Diagnostic Criteria to Diagnose Small Cervical Lymph Node Metastases

    The criteria to diagnose small cervical lymph node metastases in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma by combining MRI scanning and contrast-enhanced ultrasonography with specific ultrasound contrast agents (Sonazoid).

    Measured: The pathologic results of the lymph nodes are expected to be obtained within one week after the MRI scanning, CEUS examination, and ultrasound-guided lymph node aspiration.

  2. Sensitivity and Specificity of the Combined Diagnostic Criteria

    Measured: The pathologic results of the lymph nodes are expected to be obtained within one week after the MRI scanning, CEUS examination, and ultrasound-guided lymph node aspiration.

Secondary outcomes (5)
  1. Receiver Operating Characteristic Curve and Optimal Cut-off Value of Each Characteristics of Small Lymph Nodes in MRI Scanning and CEUS Examination

    The receiver operating characteristic curve of each characteristics of small lymph nodes in MRI scanning and CEUS examination will be plotted. The area under the curve will be calculated. And the optimal cut-off value of each characteristics will be determined based on the receiver operating characteristic curve.

    Measured: The pathologic results of the lymph nodes are expected to be obtained within one week after the MRI scanning, CEUS examination, and ultrasound-guided lymph node aspiration.

  2. Diagnostic Performance of Each Characteristics of Small Lymph Nodes in MRI Scanning and CEUS Examination Based on the Optimal Cut-off Value

    The diagnostic performance of each characteristics of small lymph nodes in MRI scanning and CEUS examination will be evaluated with sensitivity, specificity, Youden index, accuracy, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, positive likelihood ratio, and negative likelihood ratio.

    Measured: The pathologic results of the lymph nodes are expected to be obtained within one week after the MRI scanning, CEUS examination, and ultrasound-guided lymph node aspiration.

  3. Inter-operator Agreement of Each Characteristics of Small Lymph Nodes in MRI Scanning and CEUS Examination

    The inter-operator agreement of qualitative characteristics of small lymph nodes in MRI scanning and CEUS examination will be evaluated with Cohen's kappa coefficient. The inter-operator agreement of quantitative characteristics of small lymph nodes in MRI scanning and CEUS examination will be evaluated with Bland-Altman analysis and paired t-test.

    Measured: The pathologic results of the lymph nodes are expected to be obtained within one week after the MRI scanning, CEUS examination, and ultrasound-guided lymph node aspiration.

  4. Diagnostic Performance of the Combined Diagnostic Criteria

    The diagnostic performance of the combined diagnostic criteria will be evaluated with area under the receiver operating characteristic curve, Youden index, accuracy, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, positive likelihood ratio, and negative likelihood ratio.

    Measured: The pathologic results of the lymph nodes are expected to be obtained within one week after the MRI scanning, CEUS examination, and ultrasound-guided lymph node aspiration.

  5. Inter-operator Agreement of the Combined Diagnostic Criteria

    The inter-operator agreement of the combined diagnostic criteria will be evaluated with Cohen's kappa coefficient.

    Measured: The pathologic results of the lymph nodes are expected to be obtained within one week after the MRI scanning, CEUS examination, and ultrasound-guided lymph node aspiration.

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted25 May 2022
  2. Study start25 May 2022
  3. Primary completion3 Nov 2023
  4. Study completion7 Nov 2023

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase N/A
Primary purpose
Diagnosis
Allocation
Not applicable
Intervention model
Single group
Masking
None (open label)
Enrolment
348 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT05389306
Sponsor's protocol ID
2022-FXY-041-FLK
Acronym
NPC-LN
Status last verified
Feb 2026
First submitted
19 May 2022
Last updated
3 Mar 2026
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
Yes
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
No

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing MRI Scanning, Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasonography and Ultrasound-guided Lymph Node Aspiration in people with Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma, run by Sun Yat-sen University at 1 site in China.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 5 inclusion and 9 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 3 Mar 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 1 site in China. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

Are results available for this study?

The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Combined Diagnostic Criteria to Diagnose Small Cervical Lymph Node Metastases (time frame: The pathologic results of the lymph nodes are expected to be obtained within one week after the MRI scanning, CEUS examination, and ultrasound-guided lymph node aspiration.). The study lists 2 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 3 Mar 2026.

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