Using ultrasound signals to detect cancer in lymph nodes

In vivo Evaluation of Lymph Nodes Using Quantitative Ultrasound

['FUNDING_R01'] · WEILL MEDICAL COLL OF CORNELL UNIV · NIH-11144345

This project tests a new ultrasound technique to help people with suspicious lymph nodes figure out if those nodes contain cancer while they get a medically needed biopsy.

Quick facts

Phase['FUNDING_R01']
Study typeNih_funding
SexAll
SponsorWEILL MEDICAL COLL OF CORNELL UNIV (nih funded)
Locations1 site (NEW YORK, UNITED STATES)
Trial IDNIH-11144345 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this research studies

If you are scheduled for an ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration (FNA) of a suspicious lymph node, the team will use a modified clinical ultrasound scanner to capture extra raw echo data during your procedure. Researchers will run quantitative-ultrasound (QUS) algorithms on those echo signals to look for patterns that match metastatic cancer, primary lymphoma, or benign changes. The work is being done at multiple centers and will include a wider variety of diseases and a more diverse group of patients than earlier studies. The goal is to validate the approach so the software could be built into regular ultrasound machines used in clinics.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates are people with suspicious or enlarged lymph nodes who are already scheduled for a clinically indicated ultrasound-guided FNA.

Not a fit: People without suspicious lymph nodes, or those not undergoing ultrasound-guided biopsy, are unlikely to benefit directly from this project.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this could make it easier to identify cancer in lymph nodes and improve staging and treatment choices without additional invasive tests.

How similar studies have performed: Earlier smaller studies from the same groups produced encouraging results, but this larger multicenter validation is a novel next step.

Where this research is happening

NEW YORK, UNITED STATES

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.

View on NIH RePORTER →

Last reviewed 2026-05-15 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.