Using PET-MRI to monitor brain tumors in children
Official title: Utility of PET-MRI in Post-treatment Surveillance of Paediatric Brain Tumours: a Pilot Study
Run by Sheffield Children's NHS Foundation Trust · NCT05553899 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is testing if a new type of brain scan called PET-MRI can help doctors better monitor children with brain tumors after treatment to see if the tumors come back or get worse.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 8 Years to 18 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 5 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | Sheffield Children's NHS Foundation Trust Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Sheffield, South Yorkshire) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | February 28, 2024 |
| Main results expected | December 2026 |
| Study ends | June 2027 |
| Registry record updated | May 6, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT05553899 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Ideal candidates include children with a confirmed diagnosis of malignant brain tumors who have uncertainty regarding tumor recurrence based on standard MRI scans.
✕Probably not a fit
Patients who are unable to undergo MRI without general anesthesia or have conditions like diabetes that affect glucose metabolism may not benefit from this study.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
This pilot project investigates the effectiveness of PET-MRI imaging in monitoring pediatric patients with high-grade gliomas or medulloblastomas after treatment. The study aims to improve the detection of tumor recurrence or progression, which can be challenging with conventional MRI due to post-treatment changes that may mimic disease. By combining the detailed anatomical imaging of MRI with the metabolic insights from PET, the study seeks to provide a more accurate, non-invasive method for assessing treatment outcomes in children. This could enhance clinical management and evaluation of new therapies in this vulnerable population.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could lead to more accurate monitoring of brain tumors in children, potentially improving treatment decisions and outcomes.
How similar studies have gone: While the use of PET-MRI in pediatric brain tumor surveillance is an emerging approach, similar imaging techniques have shown promise in other contexts, suggesting potential for success.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Have a presumptive or histologically confirmed diagnosis of a malignant brain tumour requiring treatment * Diagnostic uncertainty about tumour recurrence post-treatment based on conventional MR imaging in the opinion of the MDT * Have a life expectancy of at least three months * Able to comply with an MRI scan without a general anaesthetic Exclusion Criteria: * Unable to comply with an MRI scan without a general anaesthetic * Diabetes or other causes of hyperglycaemia * Pregnancy * Patient body habitus above scanner dimensions * Standard contra-indication to MRI (eg. pacemaker, non-compatible metallic implants, altered renal function)
Where it's running
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Sheffield Children's Hospital
Sheffield, South Yorkshire, United Kingdom Recruiting
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Ola Rominyi, MBChB — University of Sheffield
- Study coordinator: David King, MBChB
- Email: d.king6@nhs.net
- Phone: 0114 2717354
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How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.