3D MRE-Based Evaluation of Meningioma Mechanical Properties and Histological Features

February 10, 2026 updated by: Yu Shi, Shengjing Hospital

Evaluation of Meningioma Mechanical Properties and Histological Features Using Three-Dimensional Magnetic Resonance Elastography

This prospective single-center study aims to evaluate the feasibility and clinical utility of three-dimensional magnetic resonance elastography (3D MRE) in assessing tumor stiffness and adhesion in patients with meningioma undergoing surgical resection. By correlating preoperative MRE-derived stiffness and adhesion maps with intraoperative findings and histopathological features, the study seeks to determine whether MRE can serve as a noninvasive imaging biomarker for surgical planning, risk stratification, and prediction of tumor behavior.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Recruiting

Conditions

Conditions

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Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

Meningiomas are the most common primary intracranial tumors and are often surgically resectable. However, the intraoperative texture and adhesion of the tumor to surrounding structures vary widely and directly impact the surgical approach, difficulty, and outcomes. Current preoperative imaging lacks the ability to quantitatively assess biomechanical properties such as stiffness and adhesion, which are critical for neurosurgical planning.

This prospective clinical trial investigates the application of 3D magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) in characterizing the biomechanical properties of meningiomas. Specifically, it aims to quantify tumor stiffness and adhesion using MRE-derived shear modulus maps and correlate these measurements with intraoperative surgeon-assessed stiffness/adhesion scores and postoperative histopathology. The study will also assess the diagnostic performance of MRE in predicting challenging resections, high tumor adhesion, and histological subtypes.

Approximately 300 patients with radiologically confirmed meningioma scheduled for elective resection will be enrolled. Participants will undergo standard MRI and additional 3D MRE scanning. Intraoperative findings including tumor stiffness, adhesion, blood supply, and resection difficulty will be systematically recorded. Postoperative pathological analysis will include tumor grade and histological subtype. Statistical analyses will evaluate correlations, diagnostic accuracy, and potential prognostic value.

Findings from this study may support the use of 3D MRE as a valuable noninvasive tool in preoperative assessment of meningiomas, helping optimize surgical strategies, reduce complications, and inform treatment decisions.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
300

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.

Study Contact Backup

Study Locations

  • China
    • Liaoning
      • Shenyang, Liaoning, China, 110000
        • Recruiting
        • Shengjing Hospital
        • Contact:
        • Principal Investigator:
          • Wen Cheng
        • Contact:
        • Principal Investigator:
          • Yu Shi
        • Principal Investigator:
          • Anhua Wu

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • All patients undergoing meningeoma resection surgery are eligible for inclusion in the study cohort.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Patients with metallic implants or foreign bodies in their bodies (pacemakers, artificial metallic heart valves, metal joints, metal implants, and those who can not remove dentures, insulin pumps, or contraceptive rings)
  • Pregnant women in the first trimester (within three months)
  • Patients with severe claustrophobia or anxiety
  • Patients with severe fever
  • Patients who can not tolerate MRE
  • Patients with vascular malformations and aneurysms.
  • Patients who do not sign an informed consent

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Diagnostic
  • Allocation: N/A
  • Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Experimental: MRE-Guided Surgery Group
Participants in this group will undergo preoperative three-dimensional magnetic resonance elastography (3D MRE) in addition to routine MRI. MRE will be used to quantify tumor stiffness and generate a three-dimensional adhesion map. These imaging findings will be provided to the neurosurgical team prior to surgery to assist in planning the surgical approach and anticipating tumor consistency and adhesiveness. Intraoperative outcomes such as resection time, blood loss, and dissection difficulty will be recorded and analyzed in relation to preoperative MRE parameters.
Diagnostic test: Magnetic Resonance Elastography
Participants will undergo preoperative 3D MRE to quantify tumor stiffness and generate adhesion maps. MRE is performed as an adjunct to standard brain MRI, using 60 Hz vibration frequency and specialized elastogram processing software. The resulting stiffness and adhesion data are made available to the neurosurgical team for surgical planning.
Other Names:
  • MRE
Procedure: Intraoperative Assessment and Recording
During surgical resection, the neurosurgical team will systematically assess and record tumor stiffness, adhesion to surrounding structures, vascularity, resection time, and technical difficulty using a standardized intraoperative scale. These intraoperative findings will be compared to preoperative MRE parameters to evaluate the diagnostic and predictive value of MRE.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Agreement Between MRE Stiffness and Intraoperative Tumor Consistency
Time Frame: Intraoperative (Day of Surgery)
The primary outcome is the correlation between preoperative 3D MRE-derived shear stiffness values and intraoperative tumor consistency as assessed by the neurosurgeon using a standardized ordinal scale (1-5). Agreement will be evaluated using Spearman correlation and Bland-Altman analysis.
Intraoperative (Day of Surgery)

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
Shengjing Hospital

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Principal Investigator: Yu Shi, MD, Shengjing Hospital
  • Principal Investigator: Anhua Wu, MD, Shengjing Hospital
  • Principal Investigator: Wen Cheng, MD, Shengjing Hospital

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
October 19, 2022

Primary Completion (Estimated)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
October 9, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
October 9, 2027

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
April 24, 2025

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
April 24, 2025

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
May 2, 2025

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
February 12, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
February 10, 2026

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
February 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • 2022_meningioma

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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