Advanced MRI for vestibular schwannomas
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Advanced Magnetic Resonance Imaging techniques to predict the behaviour of vestibular schwannoma tumours: a pilot study
IRAS ID
236733
Contact name
Sotirios Bisdas
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
UCL
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
Z6364106 2018 01 51, UCL Data Protection Registration
Duration of Study in the UK
5 years, 5 months, 0 days
Research summary
Vestibular schwannoma (VS) is a benign (non-cancerous) tumour arising from one of the balance nerves. The incidence of VS has risen significantly in recent years and it is estimated that 1400-1500 patients are diagnosed with a VS every year in the UK. In part, this is due to technical advances in medical imaging and the widespread availability of diagnostic Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) that have resulted in a greater number of patients with small tumours and no symptoms being diagnosed with VS. For smaller tumours, observation with serial imaging is often advised but the method of measuring tumour size needs to be improved and there is currently no way of predicting which tumours may grow and require treatment.
This research aims to utilise our extensive experience to develop an automated computer-assisted process for calculating tumour volume and we will develop novel imaging markers (MR biomarkers) to predict which tumours are likely to grow. Interval scanning places a significant health-economic burden on the NHS but this research will enable clinicians to tailor a patient’s surveillance programme to their tumour type bringing significant savings to the NHS by safely reducing the number of scans performed and will assist in directing the timing of treatment.
We will use a dataset of 340 scans to train and test our computer algorithms to calculate the tumour volume and will then review the behaviour of VS tumours in 100 patients to determine which MR biomarkers are most accurate at predicting tumour growth.
This study will not affect patient treatment. All patients will have had their imaging and a decision regarding their management will have been made in the usual manner. All data will be obtained from medical imaging and clinical records at the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery.
REC name
London - Riverside Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
18/LO/0532
Date of REC Opinion
22 Mar 2018
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion