Using a dye to improve surgery for children's solid tumors

The Use of Indocyanine Green as a Diagnostic Adjunct for Pediatric Solid

Observational Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati · NCT04492735

This study is testing if a special dye can help doctors find and remove solid tumors in children more accurately during surgery.

Quick facts

Study typeObservational
Enrollment45 (estimated)
Ages1 Day to 45 Years
SexAll
SponsorChildren's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati Academic / other
Locations1 site (Cincinnati, Ohio)
Trial IDNCT04492735 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This study evaluates the use of indocyanine green (ICG) dye to enhance the accuracy of identifying and removing primary solid tumors and their lung metastases in pediatric patients. It is a prospective feasibility study involving children diagnosed with solid malignancies who are scheduled for surgical resection. The study aims to assess the diagnostic accuracy of ICG through pathologic correlation and to monitor both short-term and long-term survival outcomes. Patients will be informed about the study by their oncologist and will need to provide consent for participation.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates include pediatric patients with newly diagnosed solid tumors or metastatic lesions requiring surgical resection.

Not a fit: Patients who are pregnant, breastfeeding, or have iodine allergies will not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could lead to more precise surgical interventions and improved survival rates for children with solid malignancies.

How similar studies have performed: While the use of ICG in adult populations has shown promise, this application in pediatric solid malignancies is relatively novel and untested.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

All patients with newly diagnosed solid, primary malignancies or their related metastatic lesions.

Diagnosis of primary or metastatic malignancy will be made by combination of:

1. Clinical evaluation and physical exam
2. Radiologic study including ultrasound, CT scan, and/or MRI
3. Pathologic diagnosis after biopsy

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Those patients and parents/guardians unwilling to provide consent/assent.
2. Pregnant and/or women who are breast feeding.
3. Patients with Iodine allergies

Where this trial is running

Cincinnati, Ohio

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 Metastatic DiseasePrimary TumorSolid Malignancies
Last reviewed 2026-06-09 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.