Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound Identification of Sentinel Nodes in Esophageal Cancer

Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound Identification of Sentinel Nodes in Esophageal Cancer

This pilot trial studies how well an ultrasound with a contrast agent (perflubutane microbubble [Sonazoid]) works in identifying sentinel lymph nodes in participants with esophageal cancer. Sentinel lymph nodes are lymph nodes to which the cancer is likely to spread from the primary tumor. Diagnostic procedures, such as contrast-enhanced ultrasound, may work better in identifying sentinel lymph nodes and finding out how far the disease has spread.

PRIMARY OBJECTIVES:

I. To assess the accuracy of contrast-enhanced endoscopic lymphosonography guided fine-needle aspiration (FNA) of sentinel lymph nodes compared with unenhanced endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) guided FNA in the characterization of esophageal cancer-associated lymph nodes using pathology as the reference standard.

SECONDARY OBJECTIVES:

I. To assess the ability of contrast-enhanced endoscopic lymphosonography guided FNA compared with unenhanced EUS guided FNA in the overall detection of biopsy proven cancer-involved sentinel lymph nodes.

II. To assess the impact of overall tumor staging by contrast-enhanced endoscopic lymphosonography compared with unenhanced EUS.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Newly diagnosed with esophageal cancer.
• Be scheduled for staging endoscopic ultrasound with the intent for lymph node evaluation.
• Provide signed and dated informed consent form.
• Willing to comply with all study procedures and be available for the duration of the study.
• Be medically stable.
• If a female and pre-menopausal, must have a negative pregnancy test.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Females who are pregnant or nursing.
• Patients with other primary cancers requiring systemic treatment.
• Patients who are medically unstable, patients who are seriously or terminally ill, and patients whose clinical course is unpredictable.
• Patients with known hypersensitivity or allergy to any component of Sonazoid.
• Patients with cardiac shunts or unstable cardiopulmonary conditions.
• Patients with congenital heart defects.
• Patients with severe emphysema, pulmonary vasculitis, pulmonary hypertension, respiratory distress syndrome, or a history of pulmonary embolism.