Study Results
The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.
Basic Information
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UNKNOWN
12 participants
OBSERVATIONAL
2022-10-17
2023-10-01
Brief Summary
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IMSCTs fall into various subtypes. Around 90% are either ependymomas or astrocytomas. Ependymomas are usually quite distinct from the surrounding tissue and therefore can often be treated successfully with surgery. In contrast, astrocytomas tend to invade the surrounding tissue and, as a result, generally cannot be entirely surgically removed. Radiotherapy is recommended instead of surgery for tumours that cannot be operated. Unfortunately, ependymomas and astrocytomas can appear very similar on diagnostic scans and are therefore difficult to tell apart before surgery. Biopsy therefore remains the current gold standard for tumour subtype differentiation.
Any spinal cord surgery, whether it be biopsy or resection, poses major challenges due to the small size of the spinal cord. A small corridor via the back of the spinal cord, known as the posterior midline, usually offers the safest approach to a tumour. However, finding this access corridor can be very difficult because tumours tend to deform the anatomy of the spinal cord, leading to a high risk of injury to the normal spinal cord tissue or nerves.
The primary objective of this pilot study is to test if cutting-edge spinal cord magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques could help to better differentiate between tumour subtypes. The investigators will do this by comparing various imaging metrics between the tumour subtypes, confirmed by biopsy. The investigators' second objective is to see if these MRI techniques could help to identify, pre-surgery, the location of the posterior midline of the spinal cord. The investigators will do this by comparing the prediction of the midline location from imaging with blinded observations by the surgeon during planned surgery. Additionally, the investigators want to investigate the relationship between imaging metrics and patient pain and sensorimotor symptoms, to explore if imaging offers insight into the variety of clinical symptoms associated with these tumours.
The investigators' hope is that the results of this study could inform a future larger trial that would be designed to fully assess the utility of cutting-edge MRI techniques for reducing both the need for spinal cord surgery and the risks associated with surgery in IMSCT patients.
Detailed Description
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Conditions
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Study Design
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CASE_ONLY
CROSS_SECTIONAL
Interventions
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MRI scan
MRI scan of cervical spine
Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria
* Male or Female, aged 18 years or above
* Radiological diagnosis of IMSCT in the cervical spinal cord
* Planned to undergo a biopsy or has already undergone a biopsy to determine tumour subtype
* Sufficient remnant tumour as decided by the study team by review of patients clinical radiological scans
Exclusion Criteria
* Subjects who are pregnant or planning pregnancy
* Any previous therapy that could in the opinion of the CI confound the research MRI characteristics
18 Years
ALL
No
Sponsors
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University of Oxford
OTHER
Responsible Party
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Locations
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John Radcliffe Hospital
Oxford, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom
Countries
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Central Contacts
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Facility Contacts
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Jessica Walsh, PhD
Role: primary
Other Identifiers
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15346
Identifier Type: -
Identifier Source: org_study_id