Carotid PET/MRI With DOTATATE in Patients Post Head and Neck Radiation Therapy
![]() |
The safety and scientific validity of this study is the responsibility of the study sponsor and investigators. Listing a study does not mean it has been evaluated by the U.S. Federal Government. Know the risks and potential benefits of clinical studies and talk to your health care provider before participating. Read our disclaimer for details. |
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04040166 |
Recruitment Status :
Recruiting
First Posted : July 31, 2019
Last Update Posted : September 3, 2020
|
- Study Details
- Tabular View
- No Results Posted
- Disclaimer
- How to Read a Study Record
The improvement of comprehensive multi-modality treatment and radiotherapy (RT) technology has resulted in an improved survival rate of head and neck malignancies within recent decades. As survival increases, late toxicity from cancer therapy becomes a larger burden. Radiation induced vascular injury following RT is a recognized complication of radiotherapy. Diagnosis of vascular changes predominately relies on non-invasive imaging techniques. Doppler ultrasound assessment has been proven as a good indicator of diffuse atherosclerotic disease and a significant predictor of future vascular events. New opportunities are provided by the recent introduction of the hybrid PET/MRI scanners for investigating the synergistic effect of these two modalities without the challenge of image co-registration. It has been shown that the PET system integrated with the MRI scanner performs the same as the PET portion of a PET/CT for various cancers and cardiovascular indications. MRI allows better delineation of the carotid artery and atherosclerotic plaque when compared with CT due to the superior soft tissue contrast. The PET/MRI system acquires the PET and MRI simultaneously allowing for perfect alignment between the 2 sets of images, when compared with the sequential acquisition in PET/CT where minor head movements can cause misalignment. There is evidence in the literature that 68-Ga DOTA-TATE PET-imaging can serve as a surrogate marker for evidence of invasion into the vessel wall and thereby possibly detects early, developing atherosclerotic plaque. Thus, combined PET and MR with 68-Ga DOTA-TATE should be a promising imaging tool to screen and characterize patients at risk for radiation induced carotid injury.
In this study, DOTATATE-PET/MR will be performed in up to 60 patients with a history of radiation therapy for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma over 2 years.
Condition or disease | Intervention/treatment | Phase |
---|---|---|
Head & Neck Cancer | Diagnostic Test: PET/MRI of carotid arteries with 68Ga DOTATATE | Not Applicable |
Study Type : | Interventional (Clinical Trial) |
Estimated Enrollment : | 60 participants |
Allocation: | N/A |
Intervention Model: | Single Group Assignment |
Intervention Model Description: | Carotid PET/MRI With DOTATATE in patients post head and neck radiation therapy |
Masking: | None (Open Label) |
Primary Purpose: | Diagnostic |
Official Title: | PET/MR of the Carotid Arteries With 68Ga DOTATATE in Patients Following Head and Neck Radiation Therapy and at Risk of Cerebrovascular Events |
Actual Study Start Date : | August 22, 2019 |
Estimated Primary Completion Date : | September 2021 |
Estimated Study Completion Date : | December 2021 |

Arm | Intervention/treatment |
---|---|
PET/MRI scan with 68Ga DOTATATE
PET/MRI scan with 68Ga DOTATATE of carotid arteries in in patients following head and neck radiation therapy
|
Diagnostic Test: PET/MRI of carotid arteries with 68Ga DOTATATE
PET/MRI of carotid arteries with 68Ga DOTATATE in patients post head and neck radiation therapy |
- Validity of PET/MRI with 68Ga DOTATATE of carotid arteries [ Time Frame: complete of enrollment, an average of two years ]Macrophage activity detected by 68Ga DOTATATE PET/MRI of carotid arteries in patients at risk for vascular events post radiation of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

Choosing to participate in a study is an important personal decision. Talk with your doctor and family members or friends about deciding to join a study. To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the contacts provided below. For general information, Learn About Clinical Studies.
Ages Eligible for Study: | 30 Years and older (Adult, Older Adult) |
Sexes Eligible for Study: | All |
Accepts Healthy Volunteers: | No |
Inclusion Criteria:
- previously treated with radiation for head and neck malignancy;
- Age Group: ≥30 years;
- Patients who have no contraindications to PET/MRI;
- No allergy to contrast agents.
Exclusion Criteria:
- Pregnant females;
- Age group: < 30 years;
- Allergy to MR contrast agents;
- Pacemakers/ICD/Claustrophobic patients.

To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the contact information provided by the sponsor.
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier (NCT number): NCT04040166
Contact: Patrick Veit-Haibach, MD | 416-340-4800 ext 6085 | Patrick.Veit-Haibach@uhn.ca |
Canada, Ontario | |
University Health Network | Recruiting |
Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5G 2M9 | |
Contact: Patrick Veit-Haibach |
Principal Investigator: | Patrick Veit-Haibach, MD | University Health Network, Toronto |
Responsible Party: | University Health Network, Toronto |
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: | NCT04040166 |
Other Study ID Numbers: |
18-6313 |
First Posted: | July 31, 2019 Key Record Dates |
Last Update Posted: | September 3, 2020 |
Last Verified: | September 2020 |
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Drug Product: | No |
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Device Product: | No |
Head and Neck Neoplasms Neoplasms by Site Neoplasms |