Pre-op PET-CT and MRI in planning post-op radiotherapy for oral cancer
Research type
Research Study
Full title
A pilot study investigating the role of pre-operative PET-CT and MRI in planning post-operative radiotherapy for locally advanced oral cavity cancer
IRAS ID
145668
Contact name
Robin Prestwich
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
The Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
Research summary
Advanced cancers of the mouth are treated with a combination of surgery and radiotherapy. Control of these cancers is limited compared with that of other head and neck cancers. A key component of successful treatment is accurate treatment of the site of the tumour by radiotherapy. At present a computed tomography (CT) scan performed after surgery is used by the cancer specialist to plan post-operative CT radiotherapy (the ‘planning’ CT scan). However, deciding which area to treat on this post-operative CT scan can be very difficult, this is reflected in the potential for tumour recurrences at the edge of regions treated with radiotherapy. We know that several types of scan including magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and positron emission tomography-computed tomography (Pet-CT) are very good at showing areas involved by the cancer before an operation. However, these types of scan are not used directly to plan radiotherapy. The aim of this study is to examine whether it is possible to directly use pre-operative MRI and PET-CT scans to plan post-operative radiotherapy.
A total of 15 patients will be recruited into the study. Following entry, a radiotherapy immobilisation mask will be fabricated. PET-CT and MRI scans will be performed pre-operatively using the radiotherapy immobilisation mask. Treatment including surgery and post-operative radiotherapy will proceed according to standard clinical protocols. The pre-operative PET-CT and MRI scans performed within the study will be available to inform the radiotherapy planning process, but the target volumes will not be reduced compared with standard planning methods. The scans will be used to assess the accuracy with which pre-operative PET-CT and MRI scans may be used to guide the post-operative radiotherapy planning process.
REC name
Yorkshire & The Humber - Leeds East Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
14/YH/0173
Date of REC Opinion
11 Jul 2014
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion