Testing liver MRI as a liver cancer screen for people with cirrhosis
Compares a faster liver MRI with ultrasound in cirrhosis patients whose ultrasound images are unclear.
Plain-language title generated from the registry record
Registry title: HCC Surveillance: Comparison of Abbreviated Non-contrast MRI and Ultrasound Surveillance in Cirrhotic Patients With Suboptimal Ultrasound Visualisation
Key facts
- Where
- Takapuna, New ZealandSee the site
Could this be for you?
Answer for yourself. This is not a decision: only the study team can say whether you can take part.
- Are you between 20 and 85 years old?
Source: NCT04455932, who can take part
Where in New Zealand
- North Shore HospitalTakapuna, New ZealandNot yet recruiting
Questions to ask the study team
- How often do I need to come in, and for how long each time?
- Are travel costs paid?
- Can I keep my own doctor?
- What happens if I want to stop?
Trial details
- Who runs it
- Concord Repatriation General Hospital
- Trial code
- NCT04455932
- Record updated
- 8 September 2021
- Original description
All international guidelines recommend 6-monthly ultrasound surveillance for patients at risk for liver cancer (hepatocellular carcinoma or HCC), such as patients with cirrhosis. The aim of surveillance is to detect HCC at an early stage when it is still potentially curable. Currently only 4 out of 10 HCCs are detected at the early stage.Read full original descriptionShow less
HCC Surveillance: Comparison of Abbreviated Non-contrast MRI and Ultrasound Surveillance in Cirrhotic Patients With Suboptimal Ultrasound Visualisation
All international guidelines recommend 6-monthly ultrasound surveillance for patients at risk for liver cancer (hepatocellular carcinoma or HCC), such as patients with cirrhosis. The aim of surveillance is to detect HCC at an early stage when it is still potentially curable. Currently only 4 out of 10 HCCs are detected at the early stage.
Ultrasound surveillance for HCC has a wide ranging sensitivity, dependent on many factors such as operator experience, patient body habitus and liver parenchymal heterogeneity due to chronic liver disease and cirrhosis. In a select group of patients, surveillance ultrasound can be suboptimal or near non-diagnostic.
Currently no guideline offers an alternative surveillance tool for patients who have suboptimal surveillance ultrasounds.
Inclusion: Patients with cirrhosis (all causes of cirrhosis, except obscure causes such as vascular or congenital fibrosis) AND reduced visualisation of their liver on ultrasound (vB and vC); The criteria of cirrhosis can be obtained with any of the following methods:; Histologically by liver biopsy; Past signs of decompensated liver disease such as ascites, encephalopathy, varices or bacterial peritonitis; Clinically suspicion of cirrhosis PLUS one of the following:; Radiological evidence of morphologic changes of the liver and evidence of portal hypertension on US, CT or MRI examinations, including the identification of hepatic surface nodularity, splenomegaly, portal collaterals, varices and ascites; Fibroscan (transient elastography) median liver stiffness >12.5 kPa, the Fibroscan must be performed by an experienced technician and interpreted by the hepatologist; Platelet count <100 (x10\^9/L) with no alternative cause; Absence of previous history or current suspicion of HCC - Absence of HCC is defined by liver US, multiphase CT or contrast-enhanced MRI within 6 months prior to surveillance; Patient is able to comply with scheduled visits, evaluation plans and other study procedures in the opinion of the investigator; Patient is willing to provide written informed consent.
Exclusion: Any other condition which, in the opinion of the Investigator, would make the patient unsuitable for enrolment for the trial or could interfere with the completion of the study; Age above 85 years old or younger than 20 years old; Contraindications to MRI scan (defibrillator, pacemaker, metallic foreign body, severe claustrophobia etc.); Contraindications to gadolinium; Pregnancy or breast feeding.