MRI Evaluation of Spinal Cord Edema After CT-Guided Percutaneous Cordotomy in Cancer Pain Patients

NCT07400055 | Not Yet Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: CORD-MRI-2026
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 15
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This observational study aims to evaluate changes in the spinal cord following CT-guided percutaneous cervical cordotomy performed for the treatment of intractable cancer-related pain. Cordotomy is a routine clinical procedure used to relieve severe pain in selected cancer patients. After the procedure, some patients may develop temporary neurological symptoms that are thought to be related to spinal cord edema. In this study, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) will be performed as part of routine clinical follow-up on postoperative day 1 and at 1 month to assess the presence and extent of spinal cord edema. Clinical outcomes, including pain intensity and possible postprocedural symptoms, will be recorded and compared with MRI findings. The goal of this research is to better understand the relationship between imaging changes in the spinal cord and clinical outcomes after cordotomy, which may help improve patient care and postoperative management in the future.

Conditions

Cancer Pain; Intractable Pain; Spinal Cord Edema; Neuropathic Pain

Keywords

Percutaneous Cordotomy; CT-guided Cordotomy; Cervical Cordotomy; Spinal Cord MRI; Radiofrequency Ablation; Postprocedural Complications

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Presence and extent of spinal cord edema on cervical MRI after CT-guided percutaneous cordotomy

  Spinal cord edema will be evaluated on cervical MRI by a single radiologist, including presence, location, and longitudinal extent of edema.

  Postoperative day 1 and 1 month

Secondary Outcomes (1)

• Change in pain intensity measured by Numeric Rating Scale (NRS)

  Baseline, postoperative day 1, and 1 month

Study Arms (1)

Percutaneous Cervical Cordotomy Cohort

Adult patients with cancer-related pain undergoing routine CT-guided percutaneous cervical cordotomy and followed with postoperative MRI and clinical assessments.

Procedure: CT-guided Percutaneous Cervical Cordotomy

Interventions

CT-guided Percutaneous Cervical Cordotomy PROCEDURE

Routine clinical percutaneous cervical cordotomy performed under CT guidance using radiofrequency ablation at the C1-C2 level for the treatment of intractable cancer pain.

Percutaneous Cervical Cordotomy Cohort

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)
• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Adult patients with intractable cancer-related pain undergoing routine CT-guided percutaneous cervical cordotomy at a tertiary university hospital pain clinic. Participants will be followed prospectively with postoperative MRI and clinical assessments.

You may qualify if:

• Adults aged 18 years and older
• Patients with cancer-related pain refractory to medical treatment
• Patients scheduled to undergo CT-guided percutaneous cervical cordotomy as part of routine clinical care
• Ability to provide informed consent
• Availability for postoperative MRI follow-up on day 1 and at 1 month

You may not qualify if:

• Patients younger than 18 years
• Patients without an indication for percutaneous cervical cordotomy
• Inability to undergo MRI (e.g., incompatible implants, severe claustrophobia)
• Patients who decline participation or withdraw consent
• Incomplete clinical or imaging follow-up data

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Mersin University: lead

Study Sites (1)

Mersin University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Algology

Mersin, Yenişehir, 33110, Turkey (Türkiye)

Location

Related Publications (3)

• Kanpolat Y, Ozdemir M, Al-Beyati E. CT-guided percutaneous cordotomy for intractable pain in what is more than a disease: lung malignancies. Turk Neurosurg. 2013;23(1):81-7. doi: 10.5137/1019-5149.JTN.6980-12.0.

  PMID: 23344872 BACKGROUND

• Mercadante S. Intractable pain and cordotomy. BMJ Support Palliat Care. 2020 Sep;10(3):339. doi: 10.1136/bmjspcare-2020-002360. Epub 2020 May 20. No abstract available.

  PMID: 32434924 BACKGROUND

• Zomers PJW, Groeneweg G, Baart S, Huygen FJP. Percutaneous Cervical Cordotomy for the Treatment of Cancer Pain: A Prospective Case Series of 52 Patients with a Long-Term Follow-Up. Pain Pract. 2021 Jun;21(5):557-567. doi: 10.1111/papr.12991. Epub 2021 Jan 22.

  PMID: 33350042 BACKGROUND

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Cancer Pain; Pain, Intractable; Neuralgia

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Pain; Neurologic Manifestations; Signs and Symptoms; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms; Peripheral Nervous System Diseases; Neuromuscular Diseases; Nervous System Diseases

Study Officials

• Mesut Bakır

  Mersin University Faculty of Medicine, Pain Clinic

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

Mesut Bakır, Assoc.Prof

CONTACT

+905457450655; mesutbakir@gmail.com

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Observational Model: COHORT
• Time Perspective: PROSPECTIVE
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Associate Professor of Anesthesiology and Algology

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: February 3, 2026
• First Posted: February 10, 2026
• Study Start: March 1, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): March 1, 2027
• Study Completion (Estimated): April 1, 2027
• Last Updated: February 10, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-02

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

TU (1)