CompletedNot ApplicableInterventional

Can a nuclear medicine scan (MIBI-kidney) tell us if a mass in the kidney is cancer?

Over 13,000 people in the UK are diagnosed with a kidney lump each year, often found by chance during other tests. Standard care usually involves surgery to remove part or all of the kidney, or taking a tissue sample (biopsy). However, up to 3 in 10 lumps are completely harmless (benign) and do not need treatment. Operations carry risks, and biopsies can cause pain and bruising. This study tests a special scan called a MIBI scan to see if it can tell harmless lumps apart from cancerous ones safely and painlessly. MIBI scans are already widely used in the NHS for heart and neck problems. Researchers want to know if using them for kidney lumps works well for both patients and doctors. If successful, this scan could spare many people from undergoing unnecessary surgery in the future.

At a glance

Status

Completed

Phase

Not Applicable

Sponsor

University College London

Enrolment target

150

Start

01 Oct 2022

Estimated completion

28 Feb 2024

Kidney cancer

What is this study about?

Every year, thousands of people in the UK discover they have a lump on their kidney. In most cases, these lumps are spotted purely by accident during scans for unrelated health issues. When doctors find a lump, standard treatment is often an operation to remove part or all of the kidney, or a biopsy to test a small piece of tissue. While these steps are done to protect health, major operations carry real risks, and biopsies can cause bleeding, bruising, and discomfort.

Remarkably, up to 30% of kidney lumps turn out to be benign. This means they are harmless, will not spread, and do not actually need to be removed. At the moment, doctors have no reliable, non-invasive way to tell whether a lump is harmless or cancerous before carrying out a procedure. Because of this, some people undergo stressful operations that they may never have needed.

To address this, researchers are testing a nuclear medicine scan known as a MIBI scan (or 99m Tc-SestaMIBI). This scan uses a tiny, safe amount of a radioactive substance called a tracer to take detailed pictures of the kidney. MIBI scans are already used routinely across the NHS to check heart muscle and parathyroid glands, and early studies suggest they can clearly tell the difference between harmless kidney lumps and cancer.

This trial is a feasibility study. It aims to find out whether offering this scan to NHS patients is practical, helpful, and acceptable to patients and doctors alike. If the results are positive, it will pave the way for a larger nationwide study that could transform how kidney tumours are diagnosed.

Key takeaways

Up to 3 in 10 kidney lumps are harmless and do not need surgery.
This study tests whether a gentle scan (MIBI) can tell harmless lumps apart from cancer.
Taking part involves one extra hospital visit lasting 2 to 3 hours.
Your routine NHS treatment, such as a biopsy or surgery, will carry on as normal.
You will receive £60 in cash or vouchers to cover your travel and time.

Who may be eligible?

You may be able to join this study if you are aged between 18 and 94 and have recently been diagnosed with a kidney lump that is larger than 2 centimetres across. To take part, you must already have a plan to undergo a biopsy or surgery as part of your standard NHS care, and you must be willing to attend one additional scan appointment.

You cannot take part if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or currently breastfeeding. You will also be excluded if you have a known allergy to the tracer liquid used during the scan.

Finally, the study is not suitable for people taking part in other trials that might interfere with this research, or for those whose general health makes travelling for an extra hospital appointment too difficult.

Could this study suit you?

Answer these quick questions to see if you may be eligible. This is a guide only — the research team makes the final call.

I am between 18 and 94 years of age.
I have been told I have a kidney lump larger than 2cm.
I am already booked or planning to have a biopsy or kidney surgery.
I am not pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding.
I am able and willing to attend one additional hospital appointment.

Answer every question to see your result.

What does participation involve?

If you take part, you will have one extra appointment at the hospital's nuclear medicine department. During this visit, a healthcare professional will give you a small injection of the tracer fluid through a vein in your arm. You will then wait about 75 minutes to give the tracer time to travel to your kidneys, after which you will lie down for the scan. The whole hospital visit takes between 2 and 3 hours. Before the scan, and again 1 to 3 days afterwards, you will be asked to fill out short questionnaires about your well-being. You may also be invited to complete an audio-recorded interview about your thoughts on the scan. Your planned NHS surgery or biopsy will go ahead as usual. To help with your travel costs and time, you will receive £60 in cash or vouchers.

Potential risks and benefits

Taking part will not directly alter your current medical treatment, but the findings could help future patients avoid invasive biopsies or unnecessary surgery. The MIBI scan uses a very low dose of radiation. Specialist safety experts have reviewed this and determined the risk is very low—the estimated chance of the scan causing cancer later in life is about 1 in 1,429 (compared to the natural lifetime risk of 1 in 2). You may experience brief pain or mild bruising where the needle goes into your arm. MIBI scans have a very strong safety record in the NHS. Taking part is completely your choice, and you can withdraw at any time without your regular NHS care being affected.

Locations (4)

Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust
City only
London, England
Guy's Hospital
Approximate
London, England
Royal Devon & Exeter Foundation Hospital
City only
Exeter, England
Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
City only
Leeds, England

Common questions

Will taking part delay my planned surgery or biopsy?

No. The study scan is scheduled around your routine care so your planned biopsy or operation will happen as normal.

Does the MIBI scan hurt?

The scan itself is completely painless. You will only feel a quick pinch when the tracer fluid is injected into your arm vein.

Is the radiation in the scan dangerous?

The radiation dose is very small and considered low risk. It is similar to other routine medical imaging scans used every day in the NHS.

Will I get help with travel costs?

Yes. Participants are offered £60 in cash or vouchers to help cover travel expenses and thank them for their time.

Can I leave the study if I change my mind?

Yes. You are free to withdraw from the trial at any point, and your standard hospital treatment will continue unchanged.

How to find out more

Maxine Tran

rf-tr.kidneycancerresearch@nhs.net +44 7708914622 Official trial record

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