Endobronchial Ultrasound Strain Elastography in Sarcoidosis

Role of Endobronchial Ultrasound Strain Elastography (EBUS-SE) in Sarcoidosis: a Prospective Cohort Study

Strain elastography (SE) is an imaging method used for the measurement of relative tissue elasticity through qualitative (color pattern) or semi-quantitative methods (strain ratio or strain histogram). Very recently, the first pilot study has provided preliminary evidence that EBUS-SE elastography may help identify fibrotic lymph nodes in sarcoidosis and that sampling lymph nodes characterized by low strain elastography, that is "stiff" nodes, is associated with an increased risk of retrieving an inadequate sample (i.e. a sample which is not representative of the lymph node tissue). The investigators hypothesize that an EBUS-SE pattern indicative of lymph node stiffness will be associated with less granulomas and more fibrosis.

Study Overview

• Status: Recruiting
• Conditions: Sarcoidosis, Pulmonary
• Intervention / Treatment: Diagnostic test: Endobronchial ultrasound strain elastography

Detailed Description

In the last decade, the possibility to sample under ultrasound guidance (endosonography) the intrathoracic lymph nodes through the airways (endobronchial ultrasound guided, EBUS-TBNA) or through the oesophagus (endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration, EUS-FNA/EUS-b-FNA) has revolutionized the diagnostic approach to sarcoidosis. Individual studies and meta-analyses performed in selected and unselected patient populations have shown that EBUS and EUS both have overall diagnostic accuracy exceeding 80%. In addition, endosonography provides useful information about lymph node density; indeed, the presence of inhomogeneity in the lymph node texture on B-mode during endosonography represents the most important factor favouring infection over sarcoidosis in patients with lymphadenopathy.

Although the diagnostic success rate of EBUS-TBNA in detecting granulomas in lymph nodes of patients with suspected sarcoidosis is very high, the procedure is not foolproof and tends to have a lower yield in stages II/III as compared to stage I disease. Clinical experience suggests that at least some of the false-negative EBUS-TBNA results in sarcoidosis patients may be caused by the presence of lymph nodes with extensive fibrosis. We aim to evaluate whether EBUS-SE may help identify fibrotic lymph nodes in sarcoidosis and if the outcome of EBUS-TBNA is different in lymph nodes for which EBUS-SE suggest high fibrotic content.

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Estimated): 701

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Rocco Trisolini, MD; Phone Number: +390630154204; Email: rocco.trisolini@policlinicogemelli.it
• Study Contact Backup: Name: Fausto Leoncini, MD; Email: fausto.leoncini@policlinicogemelli.it

Study Locations

• Italy
  • Roma, Italy, 00168
    • Recruiting
    • Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS
    • Contact: Fausto Leoncini, MD; Phone Number: +390630154204; Email: fausto.leoncini@policlinicogemelli.it

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

• Sampling Method: Probability Sample

Study Population

Patients with a clinical and radiological suspect of sarcoidosis.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Age 18 years or older.
• ASA physical status I-III.
• Clinical/radiological (computed tomography) suspicion of sarcoidosis (Stages I to III)

Exclusion Criteria:

• Inability or unwillingness to consent.
• Severe bleeding disorders
• Contraindication for temporary interruption of the use of anticoagulant or antiplatelet therapy different from aspirin.
• Recent and/or uncontrolled cardiac disease, uncontrolled pulmonary hypertension.
• Compromised upper airway (eg, concomitant head and neck cancer or central airway stenosis for any reason).
• Pregnancy

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Observational Models: Cohort
• Time Perspectives: Prospective

Number of groups / cohorts

1

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort	Intervention / Treatment
Patients with suspected sarcoidosis; Consecutive patients with clinical and radiological (CT scan +/- PET) suspect of sarcoidosis	Diagnostic test: Endobronchial ultrasound strain elastography; Measurement of tissue elasticity of hilar and mediastinal lymph nodes through strain elastography measured during an endonbronchial ultrasound examination

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
• Diagnostic yield for the detection of granulomas on endosonography samples according to a mean value of the strain histogram <40 or ≥40	The diagnostic yield for the detection of granulomas will be measured on a per lymph node basis (number of lymph nodes in which the pathological exam of endosonography samples identifies granulomas/number of lymph nodes submitted to endosonography)	15 days

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
• Adequacy of endosonography samples according to a mean value of the strain histogram <40 or ≥40.	The adequacy will be measured on a per lymph node basis (number of lymph nodes in which the pathological exam shows an adequate endosonography sample/number of lymph nodes submitted to endosonography) and is defined as the presence of a preponderance of lymphocytes at the pathological exam of the endosonography sample.	15 days
• Correlation between the strain elastography pattern measured with the mean value of the strain histogram and the following variables: age, sex, sarcoidosis stage (I vs II vs III), duration of sarcoidosis-related symptoms.		1 month

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): May 10, 2021
• Primary Completion (Actual): September 30, 2023
• Study Completion (Estimated): March 31, 2024

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: May 17, 2021
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 17, 2021
• First Posted (Actual): May 20, 2021

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): October 27, 2023
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: October 26, 2023
• Last Verified: August 1, 2023

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Elastography; Sarcoidosis; Endosonography; Endobronchial Ultrasound; Granuloma
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Respiratory Tract Diseases; Immune System Diseases; Lymphoproliferative Disorders; Lymphatic Diseases; Lung Diseases; Hypersensitivity; Lung Diseases, Interstitial; Hypersensitivity, Delayed; Sarcoidosis, Pulmonary; Sarcoidosis
• Other Study ID Numbers: 4066

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No