Contrast-enhanced ultrasound to locate sentinel lymph nodes during cancer surgery

Contrast-enhanced Ultrasound for Sentinel Node Detection in Patients With Melanoma, Breast Cancer or Head & Neck Cancer

Phase2; Phase3 Interventional The Netherlands Cancer Institute · NCT07310758

This will test whether a contrast-enhanced ultrasound scan using Sonazoid can find sentinel lymph nodes during surgery in adults with melanoma, breast cancer, or head and neck cancer.

Quick facts

PhasePhase2; Phase3
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment91 (estimated)
Ages18 Years and up
SexAll
SponsorThe Netherlands Cancer Institute Academic / other
Locations1 site (Amsterdam, North Holland)
Trial IDNCT07310758 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This is a prospective, single-center, non-inferiority interventional study comparing contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) with Sonazoid to the conventional 99mTc nanocolloid/gamma probe for intra-operative sentinel node (SN) localization. Adults scheduled for a surgical SN procedure at the Netherlands Cancer Institute will undergo CEUS on the day of surgery and results will be compared to the gamma probe as the reference standard. The primary endpoint is the sensitivity of CEUS for SN localization, with secondary endpoints including specificity, time to localize SNs, and intraoperative usability of the CEUS system. Subjects with contraindications to Sonazoid (for example egg allergy, certain cardiac or pulmonary shunts) or pregnancy are excluded.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Adults (18+) with diagnosed melanoma, breast cancer, or head and neck cancer who are scheduled for a sentinel node procedure at the Netherlands Cancer Institute and have no contraindication to Sonazoid may be eligible.

Not a fit: Patients who are pregnant, have known hypersensitivity to Sonazoid components (such as eggs), significant cardiac or pulmonary shunts, or who are not having a sentinel node procedure are unlikely to benefit from participation.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, CEUS could provide a faster, non-radioactive way to find sentinel lymph nodes during surgery and simplify localization procedures.

How similar studies have performed: Prior small studies and pilot work using contrast-enhanced ultrasound for sentinel node detection have shown promising results but the approach is not yet established as equivalent to radiocolloid mapping.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* Aged 18 years or older
* Patient has been diagnosed with cancer in the skin (melanoma), breast or head \& neck (including melanoma of head and neck area)
* In case of a melanoma: it should be located in the limbs or head and neck area
* Scheduled for a surgical SN procedure at the NKI-AvL
* Patient provides written informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

* Pregnancy
* Any known clinically significant acute hypersensitivity reaction to the study medication, such as eggs or egg products
* Other contra-indications for Sonazoid contrast agent, including arteriovenous cardiac or pulmonary shunt, serious coronary arterial disease and serious pulmonary disease

Where this trial is running

Amsterdam, North Holland

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Conditions MelanomaBreast CancerHead & Neck Cancercontrast-enhanced ultrasound
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 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.