Protocol Details

Feasibility of Endosphenoidal Coil Placement for Imaging of the Sella During Transsphenoidal Surgery

This study is currently recruiting participants.

Summary | Eligibility | Citations | Contacts

Summary

Number

18-N-0133

Sponsoring Institute

National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)

Recruitment Detail

Type: Participants currently recruited/enrolled
Gender: Male & Female
Min Age: 18 Years
Max Age: 85 Years

Referral Letter Required

No

Population Exclusion(s)

Children

Keywords

Pituitary Adenoma;
pituitary surgery;
Transsphenoidal Surgery;
Pituitary Tumors

Recruitment Keyword(s)

None

Condition(s)

Pituitary Neoplasm

Investigational Drug(s)

None

Investigational Device(s)

None

Intervention(s)

Other: ESC

Supporting Site

National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke

Tumors of the pituitary gland comprise up to 20% of all brain tumors. The central location and the small size of the pituitary gland make the management of tumors particularly challenging. Transsphenoidal surgery (TSS) to resect pituitary tumors is highly successful at achieving complete cure for functional pituitary adenomas. It is most successful when such adenomas can be localized by preoperative MRI of the pituitary. However, in some instances, small functional tumors cannot be visualized. In the case of Cushing s disease (CD), such non-visualization may be as high as 50%. The success of transsphenoidal surgery is substantially reduced in patients with negative MRI, as some of the adenomas that cause CD are so small that they are difficult to find during surgical exploration of the pituitary. Surgical success is also diminished when tumors invade the walls of the cavernous sinus. MRI of the pituitary lacks imaging resolution to detect such invasion and so the surgeon cannot perform a complete resection with surgery based on the preoperative MRI.

Signal to noise ratio (SNR) is the primary constraint on achieving high quality high resolution MRI images. SNR can be improved by longer scan times or by increasing the field strength of the MRI magnet. SNR is proportional to the square of imaging time, however, long imaging times are not clinically feasible. SNR is linearly proportional to field strength, however, replacing MRI magnets is cost prohibitive.

Another strong determinant of SNR is the proximity of the MRI receiver coil to the tissue being imaged. Placement of a coil in close proximity to the structure of interest dramatically increases SNR, often as much as 10-fold. Clinically this is routinely put into practice for superficial body parts, such as the temporomandibular joints, in which small coils are placed directly over the joints to achieve rapid high-resolution imaging. For deep structures, the use of superficial coils is of no benefit. This has led to the development of endocavitary coils, such as the endorectal coil used to image the prostate gland. Such coils are now in routine clinical use here at the NIH and elsewhere.

During routine TSS, the surgical approach to the pituitary provides a route for placement of imaging tools, such as handheld ultrasound and Doppler probes in close proximity to the gland. Extending this model to MRI imaging, we realized that an endocavitary surface coil within the sphenoid sinus will allow for a marked improvement in SNR for imaging the sella. To this end, we have developed an endosphenoidal coil (ESC), demonstrated its MRI safety, and performed preliminary studies in cadaver heads to determine that the ESC can be placed through the transsphenoidal approach. Placement of ESC needs no modification in the surgical TSS approach to the pituitary gland. The goal of this protocol is to examine the safety and feasibility of ESC placement and imaging during TSS.

Eligibility

INCLUSION CRITIERIA:

Adult subjects (more than 18 years of age) will be included in this study if they:

1. Have a known or suspected tumor of the pituitary gland that requires surgical resection through a transsphenoidal approach. There is no size restriction. Invasion of surrounding anatomical structures by the pituitary tumor will not be ground for screen failure/withdrawal from study.

2. Are enrolled in 03-N-0164, Evaluation and Treatment of Neurosurgical Disorders. If not enrolled, subjects will not be able to be included in the study as clinical and research procedures are done under the 03-N-0164 protocol.

3. Are able to provide written consent.

4. NIH employees are included in the study.

EXCLUSION CRITIERIA:

Subjects will be excluded from this study if they:

1. Are unable to fit the intra-operative MRI table due to size or weight restrictions i.e morbid obesity. Patients will be anaesthetized and therefore claustrophobia will not be ground for screen failure/withdrawal from study.

2. Have an absolute contraindication to MRI imaging or MRI contrast agent according to Rad&IS screening including devices or conditions.

3. Have a variant anatomy which may, in the judgment of the operating neurosurgeon, add unacceptable risk to the placement of the endosphenoidal coil (e.g. small size of facial bones and nasal passages, unaerated sphenoid sinus etc.).

4. Are pregnant or nursing.

5. Patients older than 85 years of age. Cushing disease is rare in the older population.


Citations:

Not Provided

Contacts:

Principal Investigator

Referral Contact

For more information:

Prashant Chittiboina, M.D.
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
NIHBC 10 - CLINICAL CENTER BG RM 3D20
10 CENTER DR
BETHESDA MD 20892
(301) 496-2921
prashant.chittiboina@nih.gov
Christina P. Hayes, C.R.N.P.
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
NIHBC 10 - CLINICAL CENTER BG RM 3D20
10 CENTER DR
BETHESDA MD 20892
(301) 496-2921
christi.hayes@nih.gov
Office of Patient Recruitment
National Institutes of Health Clinical Center (CC)
Building 61, 10 Cloister Court
Bethesda, Maryland 20892
Toll Free: 1-800-411-1222
Local Phone: 301-451-4383
TTY: TTY Users Dial 7-1-1
ccopr@nih.gov

Clinical Trials Number:

NCT03678389
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