CompletedNot Applicable

MRI Mapping in Planning Radiation Therapy to the Base of Skull and Brain in Patients With Nonmetastatic Head and Neck Cancer

United States3 participantsStarted 2008-10

Plain-language summary

RATIONALE: Diagnostic procedures, such as specialized types of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), may help in planning radiation therapy that does less damage to normal tissues. PURPOSE: This phase I trial is studying using functional MRI to see how well it works in planning radiation therapy in patients undergoing radiation therapy to the base of the skull and/or brain for nonmetastatic head and neck cancer.

Who can participate

Age range

18 Years – 120 Years

Sex

ALL

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Histologically confirmed head and neck cancer that requires radiotherapy to the base of the skull * No evidence of metastatic disease PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: * ECOG performance status 0-1 * Life expectancy ≥ 1 year * Not pregnant * Negative pregnancy test * Able to undergo standard CT simulation and radiotherapy treatment planning and delivery, including the capacity to comply with standard immobilization devices to the head and neck for daily irradiation * Able to undergo standard MRI and deemed capable of complying with the immobilization needs and tasks required for functional MRIs * No claustrophobia * No patients with pacemakers, metal fragments in the eye, or certain metallic implants PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: * Not specified

Questions worth asking your doctor

Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.

1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?

Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.

Questions for the trial coordinator

The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.

1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?

A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.

What they're measuring

Feasability, as assessed by the proportion of study patients with functional regions identified within the brain as receiving exit irradiation

Timeframe: 90 days

Trial details

NCT IDNCT00984074

SponsorAbramson Cancer Center at Penn Medicine

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeOBSERVATIONAL

Primary completion2011-12

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More Head and Neck Cancer trials