NCT00004847
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This research study focuses on improving how doctors find and treat pheochromocytomas and paragangliomas, which are rare tumors that often grow near the adrenal glands. Because these tumors release chemicals that cause dangerously high blood pressure, finding them early is vital. Researchers are testing special imaging tools called PET scans that use experimental tracers like 18F-DOPA and 18F-DA. These tracers are designed to be absorbed by tumor cells, potentially making them show up more clearly on a scan than they would with standard testing.
You may be eligible if you are at least 3 years old and have a known or highly suspected tumor based on high hormone levels in your blood or urine, or a family history of these specific genetic conditions. You should not participate if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, have severe heart issues, or are on dialysis. Because the study relies on detailed imaging, you must be able to lie still for up to two hours.
Participation involves traveling to the study site for physical exams, blood work, and various types of scans. If a tumor is found, you may be offered surgery or medical treatment. You should talk with your doctor about how these experimental scans differ from standard imaging and whether your current health allows for the travel and time required for these visits.
Generated · Written by an AI model from the trial’s public ClinicalTrials.gov record. Not medical advice.
The goal of this study is to develop better methods of diagnosis, localization, and treatment for pheochromocytomas. These tumors, which usually arise from the adrenal glands, are often difficult to detect with current methods. Pheochromocytomas release chemicals called catecholamines, causing high blood pressure. Undetected, the tumors can lead to severe medical consequences, including stroke, heart attack and sudden death, in situations that would normally pose little or no risk, such as surgery, general anesthesia or childbirth. Patients with pheochromocytoma may be eligible for this study. Candidates will be screened with a medical history and physical examination, electrocardiogram, and blood and urine tests. Study participants will undergo blood, urine, and imaging tests, described below, to detect pheochromocytoma. If a tumor is found, the patient will be offered surgery. If surgery is not feasible (for example, if there are multiple tumors that cannot be removed), evaluations will continue in follow-up visits. If the tumor cannot be found, the patient will be offered medical treatment and efforts to detect the tumor will continue. Main diagnostic and research tests may include the following: 1. Blood tests - mainly measurements of plasma or urine catecholamines and metanephrines as well as methoxytyramine. If necessary the clonidine suppression test can be carried out. 2. Standard imaging tests - Non-investigational imaging tests include computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), sonography, and 123I-MIBG scintigraphy and FDG (positron emission tomography) PET/CT. These scans may be done before and/or after surgical removal of pheochromocytoma. 3. Research PET scanning is done using an injection of radioactive compounds. Patients may undergo 18F-FDOPA, 18F-DA, as well as 68Ga-DOTATATE PET/CT . Each scan takes up to about 2 hours. 4. Genetic testing - A small blood sample is collected for DNA analysis and other analyses....
Requires clinical discussion
Requires clinical discussion
Requires clinical discussion
Requires clinical discussion
Requires clinical discussion
National Institutes of Health Clinical Center
Bethesda, Maryland
For more information at the NIH Clinical Center contact Office of Patient Recruitment (OPR) · 800-411-1222 · ccopr@nih.gov