Liver tumours, 40% of which are benign, account for 1% to 4% of all solid tumours in children. The benign tumours are mainly haemangiomas, liver hamartomas, and liver cell adenomas. The malignant tumours are mainly hepatoblastoma, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), malignant liver mesothelioma, and rhabdomyosarcoma. The differential diagnosis of liver masses in children is generally based on the child's age, the clinical evaluation (including alpha-fetoprotein test results), and imaging characteristics. Liver tumours seldom produce clear symptoms and signs in the early stages, and they progress rapidly. As a result, most liver tumours are not diagnosed until the middle or late stages. To improve survival among patients with liver tumours, clinicians must find the liver tumours as early as possible and determine whether the tumours are benign or malignant. Conventional ultrasonography is commonly used for screening, and is preferred as the first-line imaging technique for children. Not only does it have a wide range of applications and a high diagnostic yield, but it is well accepted by patients and their parents. It can be performed in the examination room with the parents present, allowing real-time imaging and direct interaction with patient and parents. CEUS is a non-invasive imaging technology that can continuously and dynamically observe blood perfusion in tumours in real-time through injection of a contrast agent to enhance the blood flow reflux signal in the human body. Consequently, CEUS is useful for visualising capillaries and tissue perfusion in the human body. The purpose of this current study is to evaluate the use of Sonazoid™ perfluorobutane (PFB) microbubbles as a contrast medium for CEUS for evaluation of solitary liver masses in children.
This Phase 4, open-label, non-randomised, multicentre prospective study in Europe will enrol paediatric patients who are presenting with ≥1 confirmed untreated target FLL. This study plans to enrol at least 50 subjects at up to 12 centres in Europe. If a patient has multiple FLLs, the Investigator must select the target lesion at their discretion. Where possible, the target lesion should be a clearly visible and accessible lesion that could be easily followed during the non-CE ultrasound examination and all phases of the CEUS examination. The reference diagnosis/standard of truth for the target lesion of interest will be established by the principal investigators/sub-investigators on the basis of all available clinical information, including the results of biopsy, if available, and the dynamic CECT or CEMRI examination required for the study. Following unenhanced (pre-contrast) ultrasound imaging of the target FLL, a single dose of Sonazoid™, dosed according to body weight (0.12 μL microbubbles/kg), will be intravenously administered to each patient, and a CEUS examination will be performed, with images acquired as specified in the Imaging Manual. The unenhanced ultrasound and CEUS images will be assessed by 3 independent blinded readers following WFUMB-EFSUMB guidelines for adults, and in accordance with the Independent Review Charter. The diagnoses based on the unenhanced ultrasound and the CEUS results will be compared with the reference diagnosis/standard of truth for the target lesion. The diagnostic accuracy, sensitivity and specificity of the unenhanced ultrasound and CEUS images will then be calculated. Clinical safety data will be collected throughout the study. Safety will be evaluated by monitoring subjects for the occurrence of AEs.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NA
Purpose
DIAGNOSTIC
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
50
Following unenhanced (pre-contrast) ultrasound imaging of the target focal liver lesions (FLL), Sonazoid™ will be intravenously administered and a contrast-enhanced examination will be performed.
Munich University Hospital
München, Germany
NOT_YET_RECRUITINGPapa Giovanni XXIII Hospital
Bergamo, Italy
NOT_YET_RECRUITINGGiannina Gaslini Institute
Genoa, Italy
NOT_YET_RECRUITINGUniversity Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust
Bristol, United Kingdom
RECRUITINGKing's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
London, United Kingdom
RECRUITINGImperial College Healthcare NHS Trust
London, United Kingdom
RECRUITINGAccuracy of Sonazoid-enhanced ultrasound at imaging focal liver lesions during the vascular phase of imaging
Accuracy of the diagnosis based on the independent blinded read of the Sonazoid™-enhanced imaging for lesion differentiation (benign or malignant FLLs) during vascular phase imaging. The WFUMB-EFSUMB guidelines for interpreting CEUS of the liver in adults shall be used for interpreting the images and the subject's baseline diagnosis (well-established by CECT, CEMRI or biopsy) will be used as the reference diagnosis/standard of truth.
Time frame: Images to be captured during the studies CEUS examination [approximately 5 seconds prior to bolus injection, up to 4-minutes post injection for the vascular phase] and blinded image evaluations shall be executed remotely at a central lab
Sensitivity of Sonazoid-enhanced ultrasound at imaging focal liver lesions during the vascular phase of imaging
Sensitivity of the diagnosis based on the independent blinded read of the Sonazoid™-enhanced imaging for lesion differentiation (benign or malignant FLLs) during vascular phase imaging. The WFUMB-EFSUMB guidelines for interpreting CEUS of the liver in adults shall be used for interpreting the images and the subject's baseline diagnosis (well-established by CECT, CEMRI or biopsy) will be used as the reference diagnosis/standard of truth.
Time frame: Images to be captured during the studies CEUS examination [approximately 5 seconds prior to bolus injection, up to 4-minutes post injection for the vascular phase] and blinded image evaluations shall be executed remotely at a central lab
Specificity of Sonazoid-enhanced ultrasound at imaging focal liver lesions during the vascular phase of imaging
Specificity of the diagnosis based on the independent blinded read of the Sonazoid™-enhanced imaging for lesion differentiation (benign or malignant FLLs) during vascular phase imaging. The WFUMB-EFSUMB guidelines for interpreting CEUS of the liver in adults shall be used for interpreting the images and the subject's baseline diagnosis (well-established by CECT, CEMRI or biopsy) will be used as the reference diagnosis/standard of truth.
Time frame: Images to be captured during the studies CEUS examination [approximately 5 seconds prior to bolus injection, up to 4-minutes post injection for the vascular phase] and blinded image evaluations shall be executed remotely at a central lab
Comparison of accuracy of Sonazoid-enhanced ultrasound to Unenhanced ultrasound at imaging focal liver lesions during vascular phase
Accuracy of the diagnosis (benign or malignant FLL) based on the Sonazoid™-enhanced imaging by vascular phase imaging, as compared with the unenhanced ultrasound imaging, when the baseline diagnosis is used as the reference standard.
Time frame: Images to be captured during the studies CEUS examination [approximately 5 seconds prior to bolus injection, up to 4-minutes post injection for the vascular phase] and blinded image evaluations shall be executed remotely at a central lab.
Comparison of accuracy of Sonazoid-enhanced ultrasound to Unenhanced ultrasound at imaging focal liver lesions during vascular and Kupffer phase
Accuracy of the diagnosis (benign or malignant FLL) based on the Sonazoid™-enhanced imaging by vascular phase and Kupffer phase imaging, as compared with the unenhanced ultrasound imaging, when the baseline diagnosis is used as the reference standard.
Time frame: Images to be captured during the studies CEUS examination [approximately 5 seconds prior to bolus injection, up to 10-minutes post injection for the vascular and Kupffer phase(s)] and blinded image evaluations shall be executed remotely at a central lab
Comparison of sensitivity of Sonazoid-enhanced ultrasound to Unenhanced ultrasound at imaging focal liver lesions during vascular phase
Sensitivity of the diagnosis (benign or malignant FLL) based on the Sonazoid™-enhanced imaging by vascular phase imaging, as compared with the unenhanced ultrasound imaging, when the baseline diagnosis is used as the reference standard.
Time frame: Images to be captured during the studies CEUS examination [approximately 5 seconds prior to bolus injection, up to 4-minutes post injection for the vascular phase] and blinded image evaluations shall be executed remotely at a central lab.
Comparison of sensitivity of Sonazoid-enhanced ultrasound to Unenhanced ultrasound at imaging focal liver lesions during vascular and Kupffer phase
Sensitivity of the diagnosis (benign or malignant FLL) based on the Sonazoid™-enhanced imaging by vascular phase and Kupffer phase imaging, as compared with the unenhanced ultrasound imaging, when the baseline diagnosis is used as the reference standard.
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Time frame: Images to be captured during the studies CEUS examination [approximately 5 seconds prior to bolus injection, up to 10-minutes post injection for the vascular and Kupffer phase(s)] and blinded image evaluations shall be executed remotely at a central lab
Comparison of specificity of Sonazoid-enhanced ultrasound to Unenhanced ultrasound at imaging focal liver lesions during vascular phase
Specificity of the diagnosis (benign or malignant FLL) based on the Sonazoid™-enhanced imaging by vascular phase imaging, as compared with the unenhanced ultrasound imaging, when the baseline diagnosis is used as the reference standard.
Time frame: Images to be captured during the studies CEUS examination [approximately 5 seconds prior to bolus injection, up to 4-minutes post injection for the vascular phase] and blinded image evaluations shall be executed remotely at a central lab.
Comparison of specificity of Sonazoid-enhanced ultrasound to Unenhanced ultrasound at imaging focal liver lesions during vascular and Kupffer phase
Specificity of the diagnosis (benign or malignant FLL) based on the Sonazoid™-enhanced imaging by vascular phase and Kupffer phase imaging, as compared with the unenhanced ultrasound imaging, when the baseline diagnosis is used as the reference standard.
Time frame: Images to be captured during the studies CEUS examination [approximately 5 seconds prior to bolus injection, up to 10-minutes post injection for the vascular and Kupffer phase(s)] and blinded image evaluations shall be executed remotely at a central lab
Comparison of diagnostic confidence of Sonazoid-enhanced ultrasound to Unenhanced ultrasound at imaging focal liver lesions during vascular phase
The difference in the diagnostic confidence for the unenhanced ultrasound imaging and that for the Sonazoid™-enhanced ultrasound imaging based on the vascular phase. The difference in the diagnostic confidence will ranged from -3 to 3, higher scores mean better outcome.
Time frame: Images to be captured during the studies CEUS examination [approximately 5 seconds prior to bolus injection, up to 4-minutes post injection for the vascular phase] and blinded image evaluations shall be executed remotely at a central lab.
Safety of Sonazoid following intravenous administration of IMP in paediatric patients based on Treatment-emergent adverse events
Number and percentage of subjects with Treatment-emergent adverse events, defined as adverse events that occurred at any timepoint from the administration of Sonazoid™ to the end of the study (72 hours after Sonazoid™ administration)
Time frame: From administration of Sonazoid, up to 4 hours for in-person monitoring followed by 24-hour and 72-hour telephone follow ups
Safety of Sonazoid following intravenous administration of IMP in paediatric patients based on drug-related Treatment-emergent adverse events
Number and percentage of subjects with drug-related Treatment-emergent adverse events
Time frame: From administration of Sonazoid, up to 4 hours for in-person monitoring followed by 24-hour and 72-hour telephone follow ups
Safety of Sonazoid following intravenous administration of IMP in paediatric patients based on Treatment-emergent Serious Adverse events
Number and percentage of subjects with Treatment-emergent Serious Adverse events
Time frame: From administration of Sonazoid, up to 4 hours for in-person monitoring followed by 24-hour and 72-hour telephone follow ups
Safety of Sonazoid following intravenous administration of IMP in paediatric patients based on Physical examination
Number and percentage of subjects with changes in physical examination status (normal/abnormal)
Time frame: Pre-administration of Sonazoid and 4 hours post administration
Safety of Sonazoid following intravenous administration of IMP in paediatric patients based on Vital signs
Summary statistics of systolic/diastolic blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate, body temperature, and oxygen saturation for each timepoint
Time frame: Pre-administration of Sonazoid and 4 hours post administration
Safety of Sonazoid following intravenous administration of IMP in paediatric patients based on Clinical laboratory results
Summary statistics of clinical laboratory for each timepoint
Time frame: Pre-administration of Sonazoid and 4 hours post administration