Clinical Trial Details
— Status: Recruiting
Administrative data
| NCT number |
NCT05303922 |
| Other study ID # |
T257/2021 |
| Secondary ID |
|
| Status |
Recruiting |
| Phase |
N/A
|
| First received |
|
| Last updated |
|
| Start date |
March 22, 2022 |
| Est. completion date |
March 2026 |
Study information
| Verified date |
March 2022 |
| Source |
Turku University Hospital |
| Contact |
Jussi Hirvonen, MD, PhD |
| Phone |
+35823130000 |
| Email |
jussi.hirvonen[@]tyks.fi |
| Is FDA regulated |
No |
| Health authority |
|
| Study type |
Interventional
|
Clinical Trial Summary
The purpose of this prospective study is to compare MRI and DECT in imaging acute neck
infection. 50 patients suspected for neck infection will undergo both modalities, which will
then be compared in terms of depiction of edema, conspicuity of inflammation, and
characterization and number of abscesses. We hypothesize that DECT will have diagnostic
performance comparable to that of MRI, and superior to that of traditional single-energy CT.
This study will yield important new information about the performance of DECT, a novel and
rapid method for emergency imaging.
Description:
Deep neck infections present challenges even in modern medicine, due to complex anatomy and
potentially lethal complications. True extent of the infection is difficult to assess
clinically. Therefore, medical imaging is useful in determining the exact location and extent
of disease. In suspected neck infection, computed tomography (CT) has traditionally been the
first-line imaging method. However, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) provides excellent
soft-tissue characterization surpassing that of CT in the initial evaluation of neck
infections. Previous studies have shown than MRI is superior to CT in terms of lesion
conspicuity and number of affected spaces in neck infections. As an alternative to MRI,
dual-energy CT (DECT) could offer improved soft tissue sensitivity compared with traditional
single-energy CT. DECT refers to CT imaging carried out with two kinds of spectra of x-ray.
In this prospective comparative study, we will recruit emergency patients with suspected neck
infection. Neck MRI will be completed as part of standard clinical care, and DECT as part of
this research study. After study completion, DECT and MRI will be compared by
neuroradiologists, both modalities at separate occasions, blinded to the clinical information
and diagnosis as well to the result of the other modality. Clinical care will be based on MRI
as is usual practise. Surgical findings will be considered gold standard.
