Ultrasound scan of lymph nodes before surgery for bile duct cancer
Checks lymph nodes with an endoscopic ultrasound before surgery in people with bile duct cancer.
Plain-language title generated from the registry record
Registry title: Preoperative Evaluation of Lymph Nodes of Cholangiocarcinoma (POELH-III)
Key facts
- Where
- Amsterdam, Groningen, Leiden, Maastricht, Rotterdam, and Utrecht, NetherlandsSee the 6 sites
Where in Netherlands
- Amsterdam University Medical CenterAmsterdam, NetherlandsNot yet recruiting
- University Medical Center GroningenGroningen, NetherlandsNot yet recruiting
- Leiden University Medical CenterLeiden, NetherlandsNot yet recruiting
- Maastricht University Medical CenterMaastricht, NetherlandsNot yet recruiting
- Erasmus MC University Medical CenterRotterdam, NetherlandsTaking people
- University Medical Center UtrechtUtrecht, NetherlandsNot 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
- Erasmus Medical Center
- Trial code
- NCT07161869
- Record updated
- 10 September 2026
- Original description
In the POELH-II trial (Clinicaltrials.gov ID NCT05678218) patients with presumed resectable perihilar (pCCA), intrahepatic (iCCA) or mid-common bile duct (CBD) cholangiocarcinoma had the outcomes of their preoperative endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) registered. This EUS procedure was done systematically, targeting lymph nodes (LNs) with the aim to identify LN metastases preoperatively.Read full original descriptionShow less
Preoperative Evaluation of Lymph Nodes of Cholangiocarcinoma by Endoscopic Ultrasound (POELH-III)
In the POELH-II trial (Clinicaltrials.gov ID NCT05678218) patients with presumed resectable perihilar (pCCA), intrahepatic (iCCA) or mid-common bile duct (CBD) cholangiocarcinoma had the outcomes of their preoperative endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) registered. This EUS procedure was done systematically, targeting lymph nodes (LNs) with the aim to identify LN metastases preoperatively.
The goal of this follow-up observational cohort study (POELH-III) is to assess the yield of preoperative EUS, with an improved EUS approach. The EUS protocol as used in the POELH-II trial was improved based on preliminary results of the POELH-II trial. The main questions it aims to answer is:
- The number of patients precluded from surgical work-up due to positive regional or extraregional LNs identified by EUS guided tissue acquisition
Inclusion: Presumed resectable pCCA OR; Presumed resectable iCCA OR; Presumed resectable mid-common bile duct CCA OR; Presumed unresectable pCCA worked-up for Liver Transplantation AND; Written informed consent must be given according to International Council on Harmonisation/Good Clinical Practice guidelines, and national/local regulations AND; Age > 18 years.
Exclusion: Patients with a history of treated CCA; Patients with a history of treated liver malignancy; Patients with a contra-indication for EUS-tissue acquisition (f.e. uncorrectable coagulopathy or platelet disorder), in line with current clinical practice; Patients with CCA for which a pancreatoduodenectomy is indicated, based on cross-sectional imaging.