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New algorithm could spare cancer patients unnecessary CT scans for blood clots

NCT ID NCT04657120

Completed Diagnosis Sponsor: Leiden University Medical Center Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026

Summary

This study tested whether a simple checklist and blood test (the YEARS algorithm) can safely rule out pulmonary embolism (a blood clot in the lungs) in people with active cancer, compared to the standard approach of doing a CT scan on everyone. About 700 cancer patients with suspected clots were randomly assigned to either the YEARS method or a CT scan. The goal was to see if the algorithm could reduce the number of CT scans without missing dangerous clots.

What this could mean

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

Active substance
YEARS algorithm (a clinical decision rule using symptoms and D-dimer blood test)
What this could lead to
If successful, this could provide a safer, faster way to diagnose or rule out blood clots in the lungs for cancer patients, reducing unnecessary radiation from CT scans.
What could go wrong
This is a completed study, but the algorithm may not be as accurate in all cancer types or settings. There is a small risk of missing a clot, which could be serious.

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

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

cancer cardiovascular disorder disease Embolism Embolism and Thrombosis lung disorder neoplasm pulmonary embolism respiratory system disorder vascular disorder

As listed by the trial registrant

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

CANCER CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASES DIAGNOSIS EMBOLISM EMBOLISM AND THROMBOSIS LUNG DISEASES PULMONARY EMBOLISM RESPIRATORY TRACT DISEASES VASCULAR DISEASES

Contacts and locations

Locations

  • Amphia Ziekenhuis

    Breda, Netherlands

  • Amsterdam UMC

    Amsterdam, Netherlands

  • Antwerpen University Hospital (UZA)

    Antwerp, Belgium

  • Bernhoven Ziekenhuis

    Uden, Netherlands

  • CHU Brest

    Brest, 29609, France

  • CHU Clermont-Ferrand

    Clermont-Ferrand, 63003, France

  • CHU Saint-Etienne

    Saint-Etienne, 42055, France

  • Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois (CHUV)

    Lausanne, Switzerland

  • Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Liège (CHU Liège)

    Liège, Belgium

  • Cliniques Universitaires Saint-Luc (CUSL)

    Brussels, Belgium

  • Diakonessenhuis

    Utrecht, Netherlands

  • Flevoziekenhuis

    Almere Stad, Netherlands

  • Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS

    Roma, Italy

  • Groene Hart Ziekenhuis

    Gouda, Netherlands

  • HEGP

    Paris, 75015, France

  • Haaglanden Medisch Centrum

    The Hague, Netherlands

  • Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal

    Madrid, Spain

  • Hôpital Louis Mourier - APHP

    Colombes, 92700, France

  • Hôpitaux Universitaires de Genève (HUG)

    Geneva, Switzerland

  • Jeroen Bosch Ziekenhuis

    's-Hertogenbosch, Netherlands

  • Leiden University Medical Center

    Leiden, Netherlands

  • Maasstad Ziekenhuis

    Rotterdam, Netherlands

  • Policlinico di Milano Ospedale Maggiore | Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda

    Milan, Italy

  • Radboud UMC

    Nijmegen, Netherlands

  • Reinier de Graaf Gasthuis

    Delft, Netherlands

  • Rijnstate Ziekenhuis

    Arnhem, Netherlands

  • Tergooi MC

    Hilversum, Netherlands

  • The Inselspital Bern

    Bern, Switzerland

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