Differentiation of Benign From Malignant Thyroid Nodules Using Diffuse Reflectance Spectroscopy

NCT ID: NCT07124065

Last Updated: 2025-08-15

Study Results

Results pending

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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Recruitment Status

ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING

Total Enrollment

50 participants

Study Classification

OBSERVATIONAL

Study Start Date

2024-03-20

Study Completion Date

2026-03-31

Brief Summary

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Patients with thyroid nodules are currently investigated with ultrasound with or without biopsy. Despite these investigations, a subset of patients remain "indeterminate" whereby a cancer can neither be diagnosed nor ruled out - these patients will usually be recommended to undergo diagnostic surgery. This study aims to assess a new technique called diffuse reflectance spectroscopy to determine if this can differentiate between benign and cancerous nodules, particularly in these indeterminate cases.

Detailed Description

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Diffuse reflectance spectroscopy is an imaging technique which is conducted via a probe that is placed into direct contact with the tissue. This probe emits light, and simultaneously measures the light reflected back - differences in this reflected light can provide valuable information which may be able to differentiate cancerous from non-cancerous tissue. Several previous studies have proven this technique useful in other tissues, such as the stomach and oesophagus - this study therefore aims to assess its utility for thyroid nodules

The spectroscopic probe is used on the tissue that has already been taken from the body as part of the operation, not on the inside of the body itself. The tissue samples being removed will routinely be sent for microscopic analysis to inform the surgeon about the type of tissues present in the area of the body being operated on. The research team will be in the operating theatre and use the optical probe on the tissue samples.The probe will only be used on the tissue after it has been removed by the surgeon; therefore, the probe will not impact on the operation.

The overall aim of the study is to determine if this probe is able to differentiate which nodules are benign and which are cancerous.

Conditions

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Thyroid Cancer Nodule Solitary Thyroid

Study Design

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Observational Model Type

OTHER

Study Time Perspective

PROSPECTIVE

Study Groups

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All patients undergoing surgery for thyroid nodules

Diffuse reflectance spectroscopy

Intervention Type DIAGNOSTIC_TEST

Spectral data collection with diffuse reflectance spectroscopy

Interventions

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Diffuse reflectance spectroscopy

Spectral data collection with diffuse reflectance spectroscopy

Intervention Type DIAGNOSTIC_TEST

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* patients undergoing surgery for thyroid nodules
* age 18 years and over
* radiological/cytological assessment of nodule pre-operatively

Exclusion Criteria

* declined consent
* lack capacity
* emergency surgery
* re-operative surgery
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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Imperial College London

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Responsibility Role SPONSOR

Locations

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Hammersmith Hospital

London, , United Kingdom

Site Status

Countries

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United Kingdom

Other Identifiers

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08/H0719/37

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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