Low grade glioma (LGG) is a slowly evolving, highly invasive intrinsic brain tumor displaying only subtle tissue differences with the normal surrounding brain, hampering the attempts to visually discriminate tumor from normal brain, especially at the border interface. This makes anatomical borders hard to define during early maximal resection, which is the initial treatment strategy. Therefore, innovative, robust and easy-to-use real-time strategies for intra-operative detection and discrimination of (residual) LGG tumor tissue would strongly influence on-site, surgical decision making, enabling a maximal extent of resection.
To validate this approach hyperspectral imaging (HSI) - using a SnapScan HSI-Camera (IMEC), stably mounted on an OPMI Pentero 900 microscope (Zeiss) - will be used to generate spectral imaging data patterns that discriminate in vivo low grade glioma tissue from normal brain both on the cortical and subcortical level.
Who can participate
Age range
18 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.
Inclusion Criteria:
* Age ≥ 18 years
* Radiologically suspected low grade glioma (newly diagnosed or recurrent)
* Scheduled for tumor resection at UZ Leuven
* Signed informed consent document prior to resection
Exclusion Criteria:
* Children with age \< 18 years
* If final pathology reveals other pathological diagnosis than low grade glioma, datacubes will not be included in the final analysis
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.
1This trial is studying hyperspectral imaging during surgery for low-grade brain glioma — does that mean it involves a surgical procedure, and if so, how does the imaging part fit into an operation I might already be having?
2Since this trial is no longer actively recruiting, is there any chance I could still be considered for participation, or are there similar imaging studies currently open that my care team could look into for me?
3The trial is measuring how tumor tissue looks different from normal brain tissue using this special camera — does that mean the imaging is purely for research purposes right now, or could it actually influence decisions made during my surgery?
4This study doesn't appear to have a specific phase listed, which often suggests it's more of a diagnostic or observational study rather than a treatment trial — can you help me understand whether joining something like this would have any direct impact on how my glioma is treated?
5Are there standard-of-care surgical or imaging approaches already being used for my low-grade glioma that I should be weighing against participating in a research study like this one?
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
1
Comparison of hyperspectral image patterns of superficial and deep tumor tissue with patterns of normal brain