Radiation-Free brain imaging for kids? ultrasound may offer a safer path

NCT ID NCT07772323

Not yet recruiting Diagnosis Sponsor: Virginia Commonwealth University Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

Registered, but not yet taking participants.

First seen Aug 19, 2026 · Last updated Aug 20, 2026 · Updated 1 time

Summary

This study tests whether a portable, radiation-free ultrasound performed at the bedside can accurately detect brain injuries in children, compared to the standard head CT scan. Researchers will enroll 220 children aged 2-17 who are already scheduled for a head CT due to suspected acute brain injury. The ultrasound is performed within 6 hours of the CT and its results are compared to the CT report to see if it can reliably identify problems like bleeding, swelling, or fluid buildup.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance: Bedside cranial point-of-care ultrasound (cPOCUS)
What this could lead to: If accurate, this could offer a radiation-free, portable way to quickly decide which children need a CT scan and to monitor brain injuries safely at the bedside.
What could go wrong: This is an observational study, not a treatment trial, and the ultrasound is not yet proven to match CT accuracy. It may not work for all children or all types of brain injury.

This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.

Study facts

What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.

Participants

About 220 people

The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.

Expected to start

Nov 2026

An estimate. Start dates often move.

Expected to finish

Nov 2028

An estimate. End dates often move.

Lead sponsor

Other sponsor

The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.

Who can take part

This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.

Who is studied

Children undergoing a clinically indicated head CT for suspected acute brain injury in the pediatric Emergency Department and Pediatric Intensive Care Unit at the Children's Hospital of Richmond at VCU. Combined ED + PICU sampling enriches the cohort for CT-positive cases and provides the CT-positive subset with serial paired imaging.

Ages

2 to 17 years

Sex

Anyone

Healthy volunteers

Not accepted

This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.

Show the full entry requirements

Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.

Inclusion Criteria: * Children 2 to 17 years of age * Undergoing a clinically indicated (standard-of-care) head CT for suspected acute brain injury (including trauma, headache with neurologic findings, altered mental status, focal deficit, seizure, post-cardiac-arrest, oncologic neurologic emergency, or intracranial infection) * Seen in the pediatric Emergency Department or Pediatric Intensive Care Unit at the Children's Hospital of Richmond at VCU (CHoR-VCU) * Consent obtainable from a legally authorized representative (LAR) * Cranial ultrasound feasible within the protocol time window (within 6 hours of head CT) Exclusion Criteria: * Open skull fracture * Prior hemicraniectomy * Cranial surgical defect at the insonation site * Anticipated transition to comfort-only care * Any clinical condition in which cranial ultrasound would delay a time-critical intervention

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

brain cancer brain hypoxia - ischemia Brain Injuries, Traumatic brain injury brain neoplasm hydrocephalus intracerebral hemorrhage Intracranial Hemorrhages stroke disorder traumatic brain injury

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

ACUTE BRAIN INJURY BRAIN NEOPLASM HYDROCEPHALUS HYPOXIA-ISCHEMIA, BRAIN INTRACRANIAL HEMORRHAGE STROKE TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY