RecruitingNAINTERVENTIONAL

Utility of PET-MRI in Surveillance of Paediatric Brain Tumours

This study is exploring a new way to monitor children who have been treated for serious brain tumours, specifically high-grade gliomas or medulloblastomas. After treatment, it can be hard to tell on regular MRI scans if changes are due to the treatment itself or if the tumour is coming back. Misinterpreting these scans can lead to wrong treatment choices. Researchers are using a combined PET-MRI scan, which brings together two powerful imaging techniques. MRI gives detailed pictures of the body's structure, while PET shows how active the body's cells are. The hope is that this combined scan will provide a clearer picture than current methods, helping doctors better understand what's happening and make the best decisions for each child's health.

At a glance

Status

Recruiting

Phase

Sponsor

Sheffield Children's NHS Foundation Trust

Enrolment target

Start

28 Feb 2024

Estimated completion

01 Jun 2027

Brain Tumor, Pediatric

What is this study about?

When children are treated for brain tumours, especially types like high-grade gliomas or medulloblastomas, doctors need to keep a close eye on them afterwards. This is to check if the tumour has come back, if any small parts were left behind, or if it's growing again from what was there.

Currently, regular MRI scans are used for this. However, a big challenge is that sometimes the changes seen on an MRI after treatment, particularly after radiotherapy, can look like a tumour even when it's just the body healing. If doctors mistakenly think the tumour is growing when it's not, it could lead to stopping a treatment that was actually working, or thinking a new treatment is better than it actually is. This is especially important for children, as we want to make sure they get the most accurate care and the best health outcomes.

This study is looking at a new type of advanced scan called PET-MRI. This scan combines two powerful imaging methods: a PET scan and an MRI scan. An MRI scan takes very detailed pictures of the brain's structure. A PET scan, on the other hand, shows how active cells are by looking at how they use sugar. Tumour cells, which tend to grow quickly, often use a lot of sugar. By combining these two scans into one, doctors hope to get a much clearer and more accurate picture. This could help them tell the difference between changes caused by treatment and actual tumour regrowth, leading to better decisions about a child's ongoing care.

Key takeaways

It's a pilot study looking at a new scan (PET-MRI) for children with brain tumours.
The goal is to improve how doctors check for tumour regrowth after treatment.
It could help distinguish between treatment effects and actual tumour coming back.
Children aged 8-18 with certain brain tumours may be eligible.
The study doesn't involve new treatments, only an advanced diagnostic scan.
Participation could help improve care for future patients.

Who may be eligible?

This study is looking for children aged between 8 and 18 years old. To join, a child must have been diagnosed with a serious brain tumour that needed treatment. Doctors must also be unsure, based on their regular MRI scans after treatment, whether any changes seen are due to the tumour coming back or just effects of the treatment.

It's important that the child is well enough to take part and is expected to live for at least another three months. They must also be able to lie still for an MRI scan without needing to be put to sleep.

Children cannot take part if they have diabetes or other conditions that cause high sugar levels, or if they are pregnant. They also can't participate if they have things in their body that are not safe for an MRI scan, like certain pacemakers or metal implants, or if they are too big for the scanner. Children who cannot stay still for an MRI without general anaesthetic also can't be included.

Quick self-check

Is your child between 8 and 18 years old?
Has your child been treated for a serious brain tumour?
Are doctors unsure if changes on your child's regular MRI scans are tumour or treatment effects?
Can your child remain still for an MRI scan without needing help to relax or sleep?
Does your child have any metal implants or devices that are not safe for an MRI?
Does your child have diabetes or any conditions that cause high blood sugar?

This is a guide only — the research team will confirm whether you can take part.

What does participation involve?

As this is an observational study, taking part would primarily involve having an extra PET-MRI scan. You would not receive new medication as part of this study. This scan would be in addition to your child's usual follow-up appointments and regular MRI scans. The total duration of participation would be limited to the time taken to complete this single scan appointment. There are no ongoing follow-up visits specifically for this study beyond that.

Potential risks and benefits

The main benefit of taking part is contributing to new knowledge that could help future children with brain tumours by providing more accurate ways to monitor their condition. While there's no direct benefit to your child's treatment within this study, the extra scan might offer clearer information to their medical team. The main risks involve those usually associated with an MRI scan, such as feeling confined, and a small exposure to radiation from the PET scan component (which uses a safe, very low dose tracer). You are free to withdraw your child from the study at any time without it affecting their ongoing medical care.

Locations (1)

Sheffield Children's Hospital
Sheffield, United Kingdom· Recruiting

Common questions

What is a PET-MRI scan?

It's a special scan that combines two types of imaging: MRI (which takes detailed pictures of your body's structure) and PET (which shows how active your cells are). This helps doctors get a very complete picture.

Why is this study important?

It aims to make it easier for doctors to tell if changes seen on scans after brain tumour treatment are due to the tumour coming back or just healing. This can help them make better treatment decisions for children.

Will my child receive new treatment in this study?

No, this study is about using a new type of scan for monitoring, not about trying new treatments. Your child's current care will continue as usual.

Are there any risks to the PET-MRI scan?

The risks are generally small. Like a regular MRI, it involves lying still in a scanner. The PET part involves a very small, safe dose of radiation, similar to what you'd get from natural sources over a few months.

Who can take part in this study?

Children aged 8 to 18 who have had treatment for a serious brain tumour, and whose doctors are unsure if changes on their regular scans mean the tumour is returning.

How to find out more

David King, MBChB

d.king6@nhs.net 0114 2717354 Official trial record

Always speak to your GP or specialist before deciding to take part in a study.