Surgical sleuthing: new method hunts for hidden cancer origins
NCT ID NCT04151134
First seen Jun 24, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This study tests a surgical technique called tongue base mucosectomy, combined with detailed tissue analysis, to find the original site of head and neck cancers that have spread to lymph nodes but have no known primary source. About 100 patients will undergo this procedure, and researchers will measure how often they can identify the hidden cancer. The goal is to improve diagnosis and guide more precise treatment.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- tongue base mucosectomy and step serial sectioning
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this approach could help doctors find the original cancer site in more patients, leading to more targeted treatment.
- What could go wrong
- This is an early-stage study with only 100 participants. The technique may not significantly improve detection rates and could cause pain or swallowing difficulties after 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
-
University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust
Birmingham, United Kingdom
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