Can a scan tell who needs more surgery after head and neck cancer?
NCT ID NCT05707078
First seen Aug 12, 2026 · Last updated Aug 13, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This study looks at whether PET/CT scans can accurately detect remaining cancer in lymph nodes after a person has completed curative radiation for head and neck cancer. About 600 adults who finished treatment will receive a PET/CT scan, and those with suspicious findings may undergo neck dissection to remove affected lymph nodes. The goal is to see how well the scan identifies which patients actually have malignant cells, potentially guiding future follow-up care.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- PET/CT imaging with FDG tracer, followed by neck dissection if needed
- What this could lead to
- If PET/CT proves reliable, it could guide which patients truly need neck dissection, reducing unnecessary surgeries.
- What could go wrong
- The test may miss small tumors or give false alarms, and the study's results depend on how well the scans predict actual findings during surgery.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head & Neck Surgery and Audiology, Rigshospitalet
RECRUITINGCopenhagen, Copenhagen, 2100, Denmark
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