BCCs Ultrasound Vs Histology Version 6.0

  • Research type

    Research Study

  • Full title

    Assessing basal cell carcinomas by ultrasound compared with histology

  • IRAS ID

    213318

  • Contact name

    Ernest Allan

  • Contact email

    Ernest.Allan@christie.nhs.uk

  • Sponsor organisation

    The Christie NHS Foundation Trust

  • Duration of Study in the UK

    0 years, 11 months, 31 days

  • Research summary

    Surgical excision is the most usual (standard) treatment for basal cell carcinomas (BCCs), but in a proportion of cases an alternative treatment that avoids surgery is indicated.

    Thickness (and other features) of BCCs can be measured non-invasively by ultrasound both pre- treatment and then post-treatment to assess response to therapy.

    However, there is uncertainty about the accuracy of evaluation of thickness of BCCs by ultrasound across sizes and types of BCC and for BCCs on different body sites.

    Other studies have been carried out, however, the results are inconsistent (Ballester-Sánchez, 2015; Bobadilla, 2008; Gupta, 1996).

    In a prospective study of patients at the Christie NHS Foundation Trust with clinically-diagnosed BCCs (Gorlin’s Syndrome or sporadic), we aim to compare thickness:
    - 1) by 35 MHz pulsed ultrasound and
    - 2) on histopathology sections (“gold standard”),
    - according to diameter (<10 mm;10-20mm; >20mm),
    - type (superficial; nodular; morpheic; mixed; nodular cystic);
    - site (face; chest; back; upper limbs; lower limbs; trunk).

  • REC name

    London - Surrey Borders Research Ethics Committee

  • REC reference

    16/LO/2243

  • Date of REC Opinion

    21 Dec 2016

  • REC opinion

    Further Information Favourable Opinion