A study to compare a new non-invasive technique with traditional methods for locating lung nodules before surgery
| ISRCTN | ISRCTN58640166 |
|---|---|
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN58640166 |
| ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT) | Nil known |
| Clinical Trials Information System (CTIS) | Nil known |
| Protocol serial number | Nil known |
| Sponsor | First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University |
| Funders | National Key Research and Development Program of China, Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation of Guangdong Province, Science and Technology Projects in Guangzhou |
- Submission date
- 18/11/2024
- Registration date
- 19/11/2024
- Last edited
- 19/11/2024
- Recruitment status
- No longer recruiting
- Overall study status
- Completed
- Condition category
- Surgery
Plain English summary of protocol
Background and study aims
Lung cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide, and small lung nodules often need to be removed to confirm or treat early-stage cancer. Before surgery, these nodules must be accurately located to guide the surgeon. Traditional methods use a CT scan to insert a needle into the lung and mark the nodule with a dye. While effective, this process can cause discomfort and complications, such as a collapsed lung or bleeding. This study aims to test a new non-invasive technique that uses 3D imaging to locate lung nodules without inserting a needle, making the procedure safer and more comfortable.
Who can participate?
Adults aged between 18 and 75 years old with a small lung nodule that needs removal and who are healthy enough for surgery can take part. Patients with nodules in difficult-to-reach areas or severe medical conditions will not be eligible.
What does the study involve?
Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two groups. One group will have their lung nodule located using the new non-invasive 3D imaging system, while the other group will undergo the standard CT-guided method using a needle and dye. Both groups will then have the nodule removed using minimally invasive keyhole surgery. The study will compare the accuracy of the two techniques, their impact on surgical outcomes, and any complications.
What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
Participants may benefit from accurate and safer localization of their lung nodules. Those in the experimental group may avoid complications like pain or lung injury from needle insertion. However, there is a small risk that the new method may not locate the nodule as precisely as the traditional method, requiring adjustments during surgery.
Where is the study run from?
The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, China
When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
June 2022 to August 2023
Who is funding the study?
1. National Key Research and Development Program of China, China
2. Guangdong Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation, China
3. Science and Technology Projects in Guangzhou, China
Who Is the Main Contact?
Dr Jianxing He, drjianxing.he@gmail.com, jianxing.he@gird.cn
Contact information
Principal investigator
No.151 Yanjiang Xi Lu
Yuexiu District
Guangzhou
510120
China
| Phone | +86 (0)20 83062810 |
|---|---|
| jianxing.he@gird.cn |
Public, Scientific
No.151 Yanjiang Xi Lu
Yuexiu District
Guangzhou
510120
China
| Phone | +86 (0)20 83062810 |
|---|---|
| hengrui_liang@163.com |
Study information
| Primary study design | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Study design | Single-center interventional open-label randomized controlled trial |
| Secondary study design | Randomised controlled trial |
| Study type | Participant information sheet |
| Scientific title | Real-time non-invasive localization in sub-lobar resection for small pulmonary nodules: a noninferiority randomized clinical trial |
| Study acronym | REAL-3D |
| Study objectives | The real-time non-invasive 3D localization technique is non-inferior to CT-guided percutaneous localization in achieving successful resection of small pulmonary nodules during sub-lobar resection, with fewer localization-related complications and reduced patient discomfort. |
| Ethics approval(s) |
Approved 02/06/2022, Institutional Review Board of the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University (No.28 Qiaozhong Zhong Lu, Guangzhou, 510140, China; +86 (0)20 81566250; gyfyyiit@163.com), ref: ES-2024-129-02 |
| Health condition(s) or problem(s) studied | Precise localization of small pulmonary nodules for sub-lobar resection in patients with early-stage lung cancer or suspected malignancy |
| Intervention | For this interventional study, participants are randomized into two arms in a 1:1 ratio using block randomization with a block size of 4. The randomization sequence is generated using SAS software (version 9.4) and allocation is concealed in sealed, opaque envelopes until enrollment. Experimental Arm (Non-invasive 3D Localization): Participants will undergo real-time non-invasive localization using a multi-view, glasses-free 3D display system based on preoperative CT-derived 3D reconstructions. The system enables precise visualization of pulmonary nodules without physical markers or needle placement. The surgeon uses the 3D model intraoperatively to guide resection. Control Arm (CT-guided Localization): Participants will receive standard preoperative localization using CT-guided percutaneous injection of indocyanine green (ICG). The dye provides fluorescence marking for intraoperative visualization of the nodule. This method involves needle insertion into the lung under CT guidance. The study will compare both methods in terms of localization accuracy, successful resection rates, localization-related complications, and patient safety. Both interventions are performed prior to sub-lobar resection, which is conducted using video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS). |
| Intervention type | Procedure/Surgery |
| Primary outcome measure(s) |
Successful resection rate for small pulmonary nodules, defined as achieving a resection margin that is equal to or greater than the diameter of the lesion or 2 cm, measured intraoperatively and confirmed by pathologic analysis during surgery |
| Key secondary outcome measure(s) |
1. Margin distance: Measured intraoperatively on the excised specimen using a ruler or caliper. For confirmation, frozen section analysis may be performed to assess the distance between the nodule and the resection margin. |
| Completion date | 01/08/2023 |
Eligibility
| Participant type(s) | Patient |
|---|---|
| Age group | Mixed |
| Lower age limit | 18 Years |
| Upper age limit | 75 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Target sample size at registration | 440 |
| Total final enrolment | 430 |
| Key inclusion criteria | 1. Patients aged 18-75 years who voluntarily participate in the trial and can personally sign the written informed consent 2. Presence of a solitary pulmonary nodule with a maximum diameter of less than 20 mm 3. The target nodule appears as a pure ground-glass opacity (GGO) or a mixed GGO (with a consolidation-to-tumor ratio<0.5), with clinical or radiological features suggestive of malignancy 4. The minimum distance from the outer edge of the nodule to the nearest pleural surface is greater than or equal to 5 mm 5. Cardiopulmonary function and other vital organ functions are generally normal, allowing the patient to tolerate surgery |
| Key exclusion criteria | 1. Patients who refuse to participate in the clinical trial 2. Pulmonary nodules located in the scapular region that limit percutaneous localization 3. Pulmonary nodules located near the mediastinum or major cardiac vessels 4. Patients with absolute contraindications to surgery, severe comorbidities, advanced disease, or other conditions deemed unsuitable for inclusion by the researchers |
| Date of first enrolment | 01/07/2022 |
| Date of final enrolment | 31/07/2023 |
Locations
Countries of recruitment
- China
Study participating centre
Liwan District
Guangzhou
510140
China
Results and Publications
| Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to share | Yes |
|---|---|
| IPD sharing plan summary | Available on request |
| IPD sharing plan | The datasets generated during and/or analysed during the current study will be available upon request from Yu Jiang (yu_jiang1999@163.com). Type of data to be shared: de-identified participant-level data, including demographic data, intervention details, and outcome measures. Timing for availability: data will be available 12 months after publication of the primary study results. Consent: informed consent was obtained from all participants, including consent for data sharing. Data anonymization: all shared data will be fully anonymized to protect participant confidentiality. Ethical and legal restrictions: data sharing will comply with applicable laws and institutional policies to ensure participant privacy and data security. Additional comments: data will be available upon reasonable request to the corresponding author, with a formal data-sharing agreement required. |
Study outputs
| Output type | Details | Date created | Date added | Peer reviewed? | Patient-facing? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Participant information sheet | Participant information sheet | 11/11/2025 | 11/11/2025 | No | Yes |
| Study website | Study website | 11/11/2025 | 11/11/2025 | No | Yes |
Editorial Notes
19/11/2024: Study's existence confirmed by the Institutional Review Board of the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University.
