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CompletedNCT07055997Updated Jul 9, 2025

Robotic-Assisted Navigation for Lung Nodule Localization: A Non-Inferiority Study

An interventional study of Robotic-assisted needle localization and Manual needle localization in Lung Nodules, Lung Cancer (Diagnosis) and Robotic-Assisted Navigation System, sponsored by The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University. Completed at 1 site in China. Open to participants aged 18 Years to 75 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2025-07-09.

Sponsored by The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University · Not applicable, Interventional, and Diagnostic

From the registry’s dates

  • Registered 1 year after the study started (first participant enrolled Jun 2024, registered Jun 2025).
Phase
Not applicable
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
100
Allocation
Randomized
Ages
18 Years to 75 Years
Sex
All
01

Study summary

This study compares robotic-assisted navigation and manual CT-guided needle localization for lung nodules under 20 mm. It aims to evaluate localization success, procedure duration, CT scans, and complication rates.

Read the detailed description

This is a prospective, single-center, non-inferiority clinical study designed to evaluate the effectiveness of a robotic-assisted navigation system for lung nodule localization compared to traditional manual CT-guided needle localization. The study will be conducted between June 2024 and December 2024, involving 100 patients with lung nodules smaller than 20 mm in diameter. Participants will be randomly assigned to receive either CT-guided manual needle localization or robotic-assisted needle localization. The primary outcome measure will be the localization success rate, defined as the ability to accurately locate the nodule and guide the needle to the target site for biopsy or surgery. Secondary outcome measures will include procedural duration, the number of CT scans required, total dose-length product (DLP), first-pass success rate, localization success within a single needle adjustment, and complication rate.

02

Conditions studied

  • Lung Nodules
  • Lung Cancer (Diagnosis)
  • Robotic-Assisted Navigation System

Keywords

  • Robotic-assisted
  • lung nodule
  • preoperative localization
  • video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS)
  • non-inferiority study
03

In context

Lung Neoplasms

7,243 studies on the registry are indexed under Lung Neoplasms; 1,557 are open to participants now.

This study's enrollment of 100 is above the median of 60 across 5,295 interventional studies indexed under Lung Neoplasms.

Browse Lung Neoplasms studies →

Lead sponsor

The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University is the lead sponsor of 158 studies on the registry; 65 are open to participants now.

Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.

04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
18 Years to 75 Years
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

(Ⅰ) isolated pulmonary nodules with a maximum diameter of less than 20 mm; (Ⅱ) the presence of pure ground-glass opacity (GGO) or mixed GGO (solid to tumor ratio \< 0.5) on CT with clinical or radiological suspicion of malignancy; (Ⅲ) patient with a peripheral nodule, located in the outer third of the lung parenchyma, with its edge situated at least 5 mm away from the pleural surface; (Ⅳ) Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status (ECOG PS) score of 0-1, indicating suitability for surgical intervention.

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

(Ⅰ) nodule location obstructed by the scapula, precluding needle access; (Ⅱ) proximity of the nodule to major blood vessels, defined as within 2 cm; (Ⅲ) requirement for localization of multiple pulmonary nodules.

05

Study design

Phase
Not applicable
Primary purpose
Diagnostic
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention model
Parallel assignment
Masking
None (open label)
Enrollment
100 participants (actual)

Study arms

  • Active comparator
    Freehand group

    Manual CT-guided percutaneous needle localization of pulmonary nodules

    Procedure: Manual needle localization

  • Experimental
    Robotic group

    Robotic-assisted CT-guided percutaneous needle localization of pulmonary nodules

    Device: Robotic-assisted needle localization

Interventions

  • DeviceRobotic-assisted needle localization

    Robot-assisted needle localization involves the use of a robotic system to assist with the percutaneous localization of pulmonary nodules under CT guidance. The robotic system provides real-time navigation and increased precision during needle placement, reducing the variability in positioning and improving the accuracy of localization. The system offers automatic adjustments to the needle's trajectory, minimizing the need for manual corrections, and potentially reducing the number of CT scans required. This method is designed to enhance the overall localization success rate and reduce complications associated with traditional manual techniques.

  • ProcedureManual needle localization

    Manual needle localization involves the traditional technique of percutaneous localization of pulmonary nodules under CT guidance without the assistance of robotic systems. The procedure is performed by the physician manually guiding the needle based on real-time CT imaging. The physician adjusts the needle position based on visual cues from the CT scan, which may require multiple attempts for accurate localization.

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Localization Success Rate

    The accuracy of nodule localization was designated as the primary outcome of the study. Successful localization was defined as a distance of less than 10 mm between the needle tip and the center of the nodule, with no displacement of the localization device between localization and surgery.

    Time frame: Immediately after needle localization and before surgery

Secondary outcomes

  1. Procedure Duration

    Procedure duration was calculated from the time the patient was positioned on the CT scanner to the confirmation of successful needle insertion via the final CT scan.

    Time frame: From patient positioning on the CT scanner to confirmation of successful needle insertion via final CT scan

  2. Number of CT Scans Required for Localization

    The number of CT scans needed to successfully localize the nodule.

    Time frame: During the localization procedure

  3. Total Dose-Length Product (DLP)

    The total dose-length product (DLP) accumulated during the localization process.

    Time frame: During the localization procedure

  4. First-pass Success Rate

    First-pass success was defined as the successful localization of the nodule with the first needle insertion, without requiring any needle adjustment.

    Time frame: Immediately after the first needle insertion

  5. Localization Success Rate within One Needle Adjustment

    The localization success rate within one needle adjustment was defined as successful localization achieved after a single adjustment to the needle's depth or angle following initial misplacement.

    Time frame: Immediately after one needle adjustment

07

Study locations

1 site
  • The First Affiliated of Guangzhou Medical University
    Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
08

Updates

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Jul 9, 2025, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
09

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT07055997
Lead sponsor
The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University
Responsible party
Jianxing He (Professor, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University) — Principal investigator
First posted
Jul 9, 2025
Start date
Jun 1, 2024
Primary completion
Dec 31, 2024
Completion
Mar 1, 2025
Last update
Jul 9, 2025

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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This study is completed, as verified in Jun 2025. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.

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