LN-RADS, RECIST 1.1 and Node-RADS Classification in the Assessment of Lymph Nodes

Summary

The project aims to evaluate the value of the new LN-RADS scales for lymph node classification in CT and MR and to compare this method with two other methods RECIST 1.1 and Node-RADS.

The main tested system in the study is LN-RADS, the comparators are RECIST 1.1 and Node-RADS criteria.

Lymph nodes are a key diagnostic and therapeutic element in oncology. Despite the technological progress, the detection of neoplastic changes in the lymph nodes is of low effectiveness, which results from the imperfection of the criteria used. Currently, the most widely used criterion is the RECIST 1.1 guideline developed in the 1990s, according to which the lymph node dimension in the short axis with a cut-off point of 10 mm is decisive. Lymph nodes smaller than 10 mm across are considered normal. It is a criterion with a high error rate, both due to the false-negative diagnoses (with small metastases below 10 mm) and false-positive diagnoses (in the case of inflammatory lymphadenopathy).

A particular disadvantageous situation is when the metastatic nodes and their transverse dimension is less than 10 mm, because they are treated as healthy nodes and the degree of the disease advancement is underestimated. As a result, the patient is not treated properly - no complete lymphadenectomy, no radiotherapy to the area of these nodes or insufficient systemic treatment. In all cases, underestimating the stage of the neoplastic diseases increases the risk of the recurrence.

LN-RADS accounts small metastases in nodes about 3 mm in size, thus about 20% more metastatic nodes may be detected compared to RECIST 1.1 method. This means that currently, according to RECIST 1.1 rules, approx. 20% of patients have missed nodal metastases and consequently receive insufficient treatment resulting in relapse. Previous studies have shown that RECIST 1.1 shows a high level of underestimation of metastatic nodes. The Node-RADS system, as the second comparator next to RECIT 1.1, is a fairly new system moving towards the structural assessment of lymph nodes, but proposed arbitrarily, without hard evidence for its effectiveness. Despite the publication of the Node-RADS system in a medical journal, it is not validated. The Node-RADS has numerous limitations and weaknesses that reduce its value.

Conditions

• Lymph Node Neoplasm
• Lymph Node Metastasis

Interventions

OTHER

Lymph node assessment according to RECIST 1.1 in CT

RECIST 1.1 classifies lymph nodes as healthy when they have a short axis dimension (SAD) of \<10 mm; Nodes with a SAD dimension \>=10 mm are considered to be involved in the cancer process.

OTHER

Lymph node assessment according to Node-RADS in CT

Node-RADS classifies lymph nodes taking into account parameters such as: size, degree of homogeneity, boundaries and shape of the node. Depending on the degree of change in a given parameter, an appropriate number of points are awarded in each category, and the sum of the points determines the final classification of the node into one of five categories of probability of being affected by a cancer process: 1-very low, 2-low, 3-medium, 4 -high, 5-very high.

OTHER

Lymph node assessment according to LN-RADS in CT

LN-RADS (Lymph Node Reporting and Data System) categorizes nodes according to a scale that reflects the radiological and clinical forms of the nodes and the level of probability of a malignant process: LN-RADS 1 - normal lymph node LN-RADS 2 - enlarged and fatty lymph node, not suspected from an oncological point of view LN-RADS 3 - lymph node with features suggesting reactive changes. LN-RADS 4a - lymph node with slight oncological suspicion LN-RADS 4b - lymph node with strong oncological suspicion LN-RADS 5 - definitely cancerous node

OTHER

Lymph node assessment according to RECIST 1.1 in MRI

RECIST 1.1 classifies lymph nodes as healthy when they have a short axis dimension (SAD) of \<10 mm; Nodes with a SAD dimension \>=10 mm are considered to be involved in the cancer process.

OTHER

Lymph node assessment according to Node-RADS in MRI

Node-RADS classifies lymph nodes taking into account parameters such as: size, degree of homogeneity, boundaries and shape of the node. Depending on the degree of change in a given parameter, an appropriate number of points are awarded in each category, and the sum of the points determines the final classification of the node into one of five categories of probability of being affected by a cancer process: 1-very low, 2-low, 3-medium, 4 -high, 5-very high.

OTHER

Lymph node assessment according to LN-RADS in MRI

LN-RADS (Lymph Node Reporting and Data System) categorizes nodes according to a scale that reflects the radiological and clinical forms of the nodes and the level of probability of a malignant process: LN-RADS 1 - normal lymph node LN-RADS 2 - enlarged and fatty lymph node, not suspected from an oncological point of view LN-RADS 3 - lymph node with features suggesting reactive changes. LN-RADS 4a - lymph node with slight oncological suspicion LN-RADS 4b - lymph node with strong oncological suspicion LN-RADS 5 - definitely cancerous node

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Medical Research Agency, Poland

  collaborator OTHER_GOV

• Copernicus Memorial Hospital

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Cezary Chudobiński, PhD · Copernicus Memoriał Hospital

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

DIAGNOSTIC

Masking

DOUBLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2023-12-01

Primary Completion

2028-12-31

Completion

2028-12-31

Countries

• Poland

Study Locations