Real-time Ultrasound-Guided Endoscopy

  • Research type

    Research Study

  • Full title

    Real-time Ultrasound-Guided Endoscopy

  • IRAS ID

    303530

  • Contact name

    Matthew J. Clarkson

  • Contact email

    m.clarkson@ucl.ac.uk

  • Sponsor organisation

    University College London

  • Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier

    Z6364106/2021/10/29, UCL Data Protection Registration Number

  • Duration of Study in the UK

    2 years, 0 months, 0 days

  • Research summary

    The increasing use of abdominal Magnetic Resonance (MR) and Computed Tomography (CT) imaging as diagnostic tools has led to a marked increase in incidental detection of pancreatic lesions. Pancreatic cysts, for example, have been detected in between 2.4 and 13.4% of patients undergoing an MR scan for a non-pancreatic indication. Up to 20% of these will be cancerous or progress to pancreatic cancer. Endoscopic Ultrasound (EUS) guided fine needle aspiration is widely regarded as a method of assessing pancreatic lesions, but it requires a high level of skill, is operator dependent and is particularly challenging for small lesions. The net result is that there is an unmet clinical need to improve the accuracy of endoscopic ultrasound guided sampling and make the procedure easier to lean and quicker to perform. The potential benefits are improved diagnostic accuracy and significantly reduced training periods. Similar issues apply to EUS-guided minimally-invasive therapy, and hence there is a need for improved image guidance so that pancreatic lesions can be treated quickly, safely and effectively.

    Therefore, the overall purpose of this study is to collect retrospective Magnetic Resonance (MR) and/or Computed Tomography (CT) scans, endoscopic video, endoscopic ultrasound and voice recordings (of the endoscopists, not the patient) from participants undergoing endoscopic procedures at UCLH. This will enable a team of Engineers at UCL to develop new computer systems to register (align) endoscope images to the patient’s pre-operative retrospective MR/CT scan. Such a system would give the endoscopists additional context and guidance during the procedure, potentially making the procedure safer and increasing the detection rate of pancreatic cancer.

    This will be a single site, 2 year study, based at UCLH. Eligible patients will be those that are undergoing an endoscopic examination.

  • REC name

    HSC REC A

  • REC reference

    22/NI/0012

  • Date of REC Opinion

    14 Mar 2022

  • REC opinion

    Further Information Favourable Opinion