Head and Neck CancerNCT07694726
Preventing Lymphedema in Patients Undergoing Surgical Treatment for Head and Neck Cancer Through Vein Reconstruction
A study testing Facial Vein Reconstruction in people with Head and Neck Cancer, run by University of Pittsburgh at 1 site in United States.
Trial summary
The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if facial vein reconstruction after neck dissection works to reduce rates of lymphedema in adults getting surgical treatment for head and neck cancer. This is a trial which aims to improve the rate of lymphedema for patients undergoing treatment for head and neck cancer. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 years and older
- Conditions the study is for
- Head and Neck Cancer
- What is being tested?
- Facial Vein Reconstruction
- Type of treatment
- Surgery or procedure
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 37 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited States
- Study dates
- 3 Oct 2026to Dec 2028
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 years and older
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status 0 or 1
- Ability to comply with the study protocol, including follow up visits and additional requirements for data collection
- Ability to provide informed consent
- Patients requiring unilateral or bilateral neck dissection. Patients must undergo at least three level neck dissection which must include level 1B
- Patients will undergo radiotherapy +/-chemotherapy after surgery for HNC. Patients will be required to have adjuvant therapy after surgery to have similar risk of development of lymphedema.
- No history of allergy to indocyanine green.
Who cannot join
- Shellfish Allergy
- Contraindication to surgery under general anesthesia
- Prior head and neck surgery, radiation, or chemotherapy for HNC
- Patients requiring sacrifice of the internal jugular vein or resection of neck skin for oncologic care
- Anticipated partial or total laryngectomy
- Pregnancy or lactation
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
United States1 site, 1 recruiting
- Recruiting
UPMC Presbyterian Hospital and UPMC Shadyside Hospital
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 15213
Shaum S Sridharan, M.D., 412-647-2130, sridharans2@upmc.edu
About this study
Official title: Lymphedema Prevention With Facial Vein Preservation or Reconstruction During Neck Dissection for Operable Head & Neck Cancer
- The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if facial vein reconstruction after neck dissection works to reduce rates of lymphedema in adults getting surgical treatment for head and neck cancer.
This is a trial which aims to improve the rate of lymphedema for patients undergoing treatment for head and neck cancer. Our aim is to re-establish venous flow across the facial vein to improve lymphatic drainage after neck dissection.
Read more
- The investigators will also evaluate lymphatic flow before and after facial vein reconstruction to determine if there is evidence of lymphedema.
- The main questions this study aims to answer are:
- Does facial vein reconstruction after neck dissection improved lymphatic flow in head and neck cancer patients?
- Determine if there are changes in lymphatic flow before and after facial vein reconstruction?
After the study is completed, the investigators will compare rates of lymphedema and quality of life in patients with facial vein preservation/reconstruction as compared to previous patients treated for head and neck cancer without facial vein reconstruction.
Participants will undergo the following:
- Oncologic and reconstructive surgery as normal. No changes in cancer treatment will occur due to the study.
- When necessary, participants will undergo facial vein reconstruction immediately after neck dissection
- Visit the clinic once every 3 months for routine checkups and tests. This is typical for most patients treated for head and neck cancer including those not enrolled in the trial.
- Fill out short questionnaires to help understand quality of life after head and neck cancer treatment
- Undergo lymphography in the OR and at the 1-year mark in the office. This is a simple test performed without radiation exposure. It requires 3 very small skin injections to perform the test.
- Conditions
- Head and Neck Cancer
- Being tested
- Facial Vein Reconstruction
- Keywords
- head and neck cancer, head and neck lymphedema, lymphedema
- Medical subject headings
- Head and Neck Neoplasms, Lymphedema
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Facial Vein ReconstructionProcedure or surgery
Immediately after neck dissection, the facial vein will be assessed. If the vein has been ligated for the neck dissection, then the vein will be repaired. This may require vein graft and the use of a venous coupler. If the vein is intact after neck dissection, we can proceed without surgical intervention.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Facial Vein Reconstruction Group | Experimental | When necessary, participants will get facial vein reconstruction immediately after neck dissection. Participants will also undergo lymphography before and after vein reconstruction. If the facial vein is intact, no intervention is needed, but the patient may still participate in the study. Receives: Procedure: Facial Vein Reconstruction |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Lymphedema Staging
The primary endpoint is the presence or absence of head and neck lymphedema (HNL) at follow-up, assessed using the MD Anderson Cancer Center Head and Neck Lymphedema (MDACC HNL) Scale.
This scale is measured from 0 to 2. As the numbers increase, the severity of lymphedema increases. A score of 0 means there was no lymphedema present
Measured: before surgery and every three months after surgery up to 1 year
Secondary outcomes (5)
internal lymphedema
We will utilize the Patterson Internal lymphedema scale to assess lymphedema during routine flexible laryngoscopy in the clinic. Patient will be undergoing flexible laryngoscopy as part of routine surveillance.
Several sites within the larynx and hypopharynx are graded as to the severity of edema(swelling). Each site is rated as none, mild, moderate, or severe edema.
Measured: before surgery and every 3 months after surgery up to 1 year
Head and Neck Lymphedema and Fibrosis Symptom Inventory
The Head and Neck Lymphedema and Fibrosis Symptom Inventory (HNLEF) is the only validated symptom scale specific for HNL. HNLEF represents a 33 item survey around 7 domains of survivorship including soft tissue and neurologic toxicity, social functioning, oral dysfunction, body image, taste and swallowing, mucosal irritation, and communication. HNLEF has been shown to capture HNL-related symptom burden and functional impairments. Quality of life in regards to head and neck lymphedema are deemed worse with higher scores.
This tool contains 33 items (symptoms), which are answered in a "yes" or "no" format. If patients answer "yes" to any given item, they are then asked to rate the intensity of the respective symptom on a five-point scales. Each item then receives a score ranging from "0" (Does not experience the symptom) to "5" (Experiences the symptom with severe intensity). Scores can be examined with individual symptoms or based on average score for each subscale.
Measured: These will be performed before surgery and every 3 months after surgery up to 1 year
Indocyanine Green Near-infrared imaging
We will identify quality of head and neck lymphatic flow including disruption of lymphatic pathways and areas of pooling of indocyanine green.
Several observations will be recorded based on imaging. These will be deemed as present or absent without scale.
- Presence of pooling demonstrating disrupted lymphatic pathways
- Lymphatic escape pathways
- Lymphatic flow across facial vein
- Presence of lymphatic disruption not addressed by facial vein preservation/reconstruction
Measured: intraoperatively and at 1 year following surgery
The University of Washington Quality of Life
The University of Washington Quality of Life (UW-QOL Version 4) is a validated and reliable measure of physical and social-emotional QOL widely used in head and neck cancer. Twelve items assessing appearance, swallowing, chewing, speech, taste, saliva, pain, activity, recreation, shoulder function, mood, and anxiety are scored on a scale from 0 (worst possible response) to 100 (best possible response). Physical and social-emotional subscale scores range from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating better QOL. A minimal clinically important difference (MCID) on the UW-QOL v4 subscales is generally considered to be approximately 5 points, representing a change that patients are likely to perceive as meaningful. A moderate clinically important change has been estimated at approximately 10 points, reflecting a more substantial improvement in patient-reported outcomes.
Measured: Before surgery and every 3 months up to 1 year after treatment.
The Functional Oral Intake Scale
The Functional Oral Intake Scale (FOIS) can be utilized to measure oral intake ability before and after treatment. FOIS has been used across specialties and utilized a grading symptoms from 1-5. Level 1 indicates nothing taken orally; Level 2 indicates tube reliance with few attempts to take food or drinks orally; Level 3 indicates tube dependence with regular oral intake of food or liquids; Level 4 indicates a total oral diet but requires special preparations, compensations, or not expanded from whole-bottle feeding; and Level 5 indicates a total oral diet without special preparation. A higher score represents more swallowing disability
Measured: Before surgery and every 3 months up to 1 year after treatment
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted10 Jul 2026
- Study start3 Oct 2026
- Primary completionJul 2028 (estimated)
- Study completionDec 2028 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (1)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Head and Neck CancerStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by University of PittsburghThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 37 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- University of Pittsburgh
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Shaum Sridharan, University of Pittsburgh
- Investigators
- Shaum Sridharan, M.D., Principal investigator, Shaum Sridharan, Associate Professor, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07694726
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- STUDY26010093
- Status last verified
- Aug 2026
- First submitted
- 3 Jul 2026
- Last updated
- 6 Oct 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- Yes
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Publications
Raad RA, Obuekwe F, Smith JD, Berry J, Chinn SB, Spector BE, Maxwell J, Kim S, Zevallos JP, Contrera KJ, Sridharan SS, Nilsen ML, Spector ME. Facial Vein Ligation is Associated with Lymphedema Among Patients with Head and Neck Cancer Undergoing Surgery and Radiation. Ann Surg Oncol. 2026 Mar;33(3):2485-2492. doi: 10.1245/s10434-025-18669-9. Epub 2025 Nov 1.
PubMed 41175182
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 6 Oct 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Lymphedema Prevention With Facial Vein Preservation or Reconstruction During Neck Dissection for Operable Head & Neck Cancer
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07694726
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- STUDY26010093
- Conditions
- Head and Neck Cancer
- Keywords
- head and neck cancer, head and neck lymphedema, lymphedema
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Recruiting
- Enrolment
- 37 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- University of PittsburghUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 3 Oct 2026 (actual)
- Primary completion
- Jul 2028 (estimated)
- Study completion
- Dec 2028 (estimated)
- First posted
- 10 Jul 2026 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
- The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if facial vein reconstruction after neck dissection works to reduce rates of lymphedema in adults getting surgical treatment for head and neck cancer.
This is a trial which aims to improve the rate of lymphedema for patients undergoing treatment for head and neck cancer. Our aim is to re-establish venous flow across the facial vein to improve lymphatic drainage after neck dissection.
- The investigators will also evaluate lymphatic flow before and after facial vein reconstruction to determine if there is evidence of lymphedema.
- The main questions this study aims to answer are:
- Does facial vein reconstruction after neck dissection improved lymphatic flow in head and neck cancer patients?
- Determine if there are changes in lymphatic flow before and after facial vein reconstruction?
After the study is completed, the investigators will compare rates of lymphedema and quality of life in patients with facial vein preservation/reconstruction as compared to previous patients treated for head and neck cancer without facial vein reconstruction.
Participants will undergo the following:
- Oncologic and reconstructive surgery as normal. No changes in cancer treatment will occur due to the study.
- When necessary, participants will undergo facial vein reconstruction immediately after neck dissection
- Visit the clinic once every 3 months for routine checkups and tests. This is typical for most patients treated for head and neck cancer including those not enrolled in the trial.
- Fill out short questionnaires to help understand quality of life after head and neck cancer treatment
- Undergo lymphography in the OR and at the 1-year mark in the office. This is a simple test performed without radiation exposure. It requires 3 very small skin injections to perform the test.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 1
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Facial Vein Reconstruction Group | Experimental | Procedure: Facial Vein ReconstructionWhen necessary, participants will get facial vein reconstruction immediately after neck dissection. Participants will also undergo lymphography before and after vein reconstruction. If the facial vein is intact, no intervention is needed, but the patient may still participate in the study. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (6 listed)
- Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status 0 or 1
- Ability to comply with the study protocol, including follow up visits and additional requirements for data collection
- Ability to provide informed consent
- Patients requiring unilateral or bilateral neck dissection. Patients must undergo at least three level neck dissection which must include level 1B
- Patients will undergo radiotherapy +/-chemotherapy after surgery for HNC. Patients will be required to have adjuvant therapy after surgery to have similar risk of development of lymphedema.
Key exclusion criteria (6 listed)
- Shellfish Allergy
- Contraindication to surgery under general anesthesia
- Prior head and neck surgery, radiation, or chemotherapy for HNC
- Patients requiring sacrifice of the internal jugular vein or resection of neck skin for oncologic care
- Anticipated partial or total laryngectomy
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Facial Vein ReconstructionImmediately after neck dissection, the facial vein will be assessed. If the vein has been ligated for the neck dissection, then the vein will be repaired. This may require vein graft and the use of a venous coupler. If the vein is intact after neck dissection, we can proceed without surgical intervention. | Procedure or surgery | Facial Vein Reconstruction Group |
Primary outcome
Lymphedema Staging
Time frame: before surgery and every three months after surgery up to 1 year
The primary endpoint is the presence or absence of head and neck lymphedema (HNL) at follow-up, assessed using the MD Anderson Cancer Center Head and Neck Lymphedema (MDACC HNL) Scale. This scale is measured from 0 to 2. As the numbers increase, the severity of lymphedema increases. A score of 0 means there was no lymphedema present
5 secondary outcomes
internal lymphedema
Time frame: before surgery and every 3 months after surgery up to 1 year
Head and Neck Lymphedema and Fibrosis Symptom Inventory
Time frame: These will be performed before surgery and every 3 months after surgery up to 1 year
Indocyanine Green Near-infrared imaging
Time frame: intraoperatively and at 1 year following surgery
The University of Washington Quality of Life
Time frame: Before surgery and every 3 months up to 1 year after treatment.
The Functional Oral Intake Scale
Time frame: Before surgery and every 3 months up to 1 year after treatment
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 6 Oct 2026.
- Background: PubMed 41175182Raad RA, Obuekwe F, Smith JD, Berry J, Chinn SB, Spector BE, Maxwell J, Kim S, Zevallos JP, Contrera KJ, Sridharan SS, Nilsen ML, Spector ME. Facial Vein Ligation is Associated with Lymphedema Among Patients with Head and Neck Cancer Undergoing Surgery and Radiation. Ann Surg Oncol. 2026 Mar;33(3):2485-2492. doi: 10.1245/s10434-025-18669-9. Epub 2025 Nov 1.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
Related trials for Head and Neck Cancer
RecruitingPhase 1/2
Study of INBRX-106 and INBRX-106 in Combination With Pembrolizumab (Keytruda®) in Subjects With Locally Advanced or Metastatic Solid Tumors (Hexavalent OX40 Agonist)
Solid Tumor, Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
RecruitingObservational study
Proton Re-irradiation in Patients With Recurrent or Second Primary Head and Neck Cancer , a Multicentre Phase II Single Arm Trial
Head & Neck Cancer
RecruitingPhase 2/3
Multicenter Validation Trial of [18F]AlF-FAPI-74 for PET Imaging of Cancer-associated Fibroblasts Through Fibroblast Activation Protein Inhibitors (FAPI) in Different Tumor Types
Oesophageal Cancer, Gastric Cancer
RecruitingPhase 2
Proton Spatially Fractionated Radiotherapy or Photon Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy in Combination With Pembrolizumab Before Surgery for the Treatment of Locally Advanced and Radiation-Naive Locoregionally Recurrent Oral Cavity Cancer, OSPRI Trial
Locally Advanced Oral Cavity Squamous Cell Carcinoma, Locally Recurrent Oral Cavity Squamous Cell Carcinoma
RecruitingPhase 4
Lidocaine Infiltration and Neuroimmunomodulation in Head and Neck Cancer Surgery
Head and Neck Cancer (H&N)
Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
Shaum Sridharan, M.D. principal investigator
Shaum Sridharan, Associate Professor, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Facial Vein Reconstruction in people with Head and Neck Cancer, run by University of Pittsburgh at 1 site in United States.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 6 inclusion and 6 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: looking for participants now, as of the sponsor's last update on 6 Oct 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact Shaum S Sridharan, M.D. (412-647-2130, sridharans2@upmc.edu), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Lymphedema Staging (time frame: before surgery and every three months after surgery up to 1 year). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT07694726, which also lists 1 linked publication.
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 6 Oct 2026.