Renal tumour Imaging using MRI (RIM)
Research type
Research Study
Full title
A single site pilot study of functional and microstructural imaging using magnetic resonance imaging in patients with renal tumours
IRAS ID
323984
Contact name
Richard Hesketh
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University College London
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
Z6364106/2023/11/12, UCL Data Protection Number
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 11 months, 30 days
Research summary
Renal cancer has the highest mortality rate of any urological cancer. Despite the overall mortality rate renal tumours are diverse, presenting with a range of different histological subtypes and nuclear grade, ranging from the benign to the highly malignant. Current clinical imaging of renal tumours is heavily reliant on computed tomography (CT) which is an accurate technique for tumour detection and staging but cannot reliably differentiate tumour types or grade. Percutaneous biopsy is not routinely adopted due to concerns of tumour seeding, diagnostic uncertainty and sampling error due to intra-tumoral heterogeneity.
An imaging test that can reliably differentiate between different tumour types and grades would result in improved personalised treatment decisions, benefiting patients with renal tumours and potentially delivering a considerable saving to the NHS by reducing unnecessary treatment of benign or indolent tumours.
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) delivers unique soft tissue contrast and sequences can be designed to be sensitive to a wide range of microstructural tissue features. This project aims to develop magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) sequences and relate the imaging findings with the underlying histology of the tumour. In the future we aim that this will be the foundation of incorporating MRI into the clinical management algorithm of renal tumours.REC name
London - Camden & Kings Cross Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
24/LO/0160
Date of REC Opinion
11 Apr 2024
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion