Clinical trial · Interventional
Positronic Emission Tomography (PET) Imaging in Post Radiation Evaluation of Head and Neck Tumours (PET PREVENT Trial)
A Prospective Cohort Study to Determine the Sensitivity of Positron Emission Tomography (PET) in Detecting Metastatic Cancer in Neck Lymph Nodes in Patients With Squamous Cell Head & Neck Cancer Managed With Primary Radiation Therapy
- Source
- ClinicalTrials.gov
- Retrieved
- Sep 8, 2026
- Layer
- normalized (units and labels harmonized; values unchanged)
- Run
- ING-CLINICALTRIALS-20260908-000001
Summary
Brief summary (as posted)
The purpose of this trial is to determine the ability of positron emission tomography (PET) to detect residual cancer in neck lymph nodes of patients following curative treatment with radiation therapy for squamous cell cancer arising in the head and neck. Patients with head and neck cancer (HNC) undergo treatment of curative intent; patients who are node positive (N2 N3 stages) undergo standard management which includes post-radiation planned neck dissection but two thirds of patients end up not having evidence of residual disease in neck dissection specimens; these patients could have avoided surgery. However, currently used standard tests, like computed tomography (CT) and/or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) cannot reliably predict who is post-radiation disease free.
Conditions
Conditions (1)
Free-text conditions as registered, with the CancerIndex entity they were reconciled to and the match type.
| Condition (as posted) | Mapped entity | Match | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cancer of the Head and Neck | Malignant Head and Neck Neoplasm | ALIAS | 0.90 |
Interventions
Interventions (1)
| Intervention | Type | Mapped drug | Match |
|---|---|---|---|
| PET scan in addition to conventional CT imaging | Other | — | UNRESOLVED |
Design
Arms and outcomes
Arms (1)
- type
- OTHER
- label
- PET
- description
- All patients receive PET scan and conventional CT imaging.
- interventionNames
- Other: PET scan in addition to conventional CT imaging
Primary outcomes (1)
- measure
- Ability of PET compared to CT in identifying the presence of tumour in neck nodes
- timeFrame
- 2 years
Secondary outcomes (3)
- measure
- Tumour at the primary site 8-10 weeks following radiation;
- timeFrame
- 2 years
- measure
- The change in PET signal (standard uptake value;
Eligibility
Eligibility (as posted)
- Sex
- All
- Minimum age
- 18 Years
Show eligibility criteria text
Inclusion Criteria: All of the following criteria must be satisfied: 1. Histological evidence of squamous cell carcinoma of the head \& neck (T1-T4 arising in either the oral cavity, larynx \& pharynx, except Nasopharyngeal carcinoma);OR patients with histological evidence of squamous cell carcinoma metastatic to the neck and an unknown primary site after conventional workup without any of the following: i). Clinically suspected skin primary or previous diagnosis of skin cancer arising in the head and neck area; ii). Patients of Asian or African decent -possible nasopharynx primary; iii). Patients whose malignant adenopathy is confined to zone V -possible nasopharynx primary; and iv). Patients whose malignant adenopathy is confined to zone IV (supraclavicular)-possible lung primary. 2. Presence of advanced N2 or N3 neck disease. 3. Planned for primary curative radiation therapy (± chemotherapy) followed by neck dissection eight to twelve weeks after completion of treatment. Exclusion Criteria: 1. Presence of distant metastasis 2. Recurrent tumour 3. Prior neo-adjuvant chemotherapy 4. Previous radiation therapy to intended treatment volumes 5. Other active malignancy 6. Surgically inoperable neck disease 7. Unable to remain supine for 60 minutes 8. Unfit to undergo general anesthetic or neck dissection for medical reasons 9. Known hypersensitivity to CT contrast 10. Pregnancy
References
Publications (0)
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