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Assessment of Treatment With Laparoscopic Fenestration or Aspiration Sclerotherapy for Large Symptomatic Hepatic Cysts

Assessment of Treatment With Laparoscopic Fenestration or Aspiration Sclerotherapy for Large Symptomatic Hepatic Cysts (ATLAS): a Randomized Clinical Trial.

Status
UNKNOWN
Phases
NA
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT05500157
Acronym
ATLAS
Enrollment
70
Registered
2022-08-12
Start date
2022-10-01
Completion date
2024-10-01
Last updated
2023-04-05

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney, Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Liver Disease, Liver Cyst, Polycystic Liver Disease

Keywords

polycystic liver disease, aspiration sclerotherapy, fenestration

Brief summary

Patients with large hepatic cysts (\> 5cm) may develop symptoms. These can be captured with the polycystic liver disease questionnaire (PLD-Q). Treatment of large hepatic cysts consists of aspiration sclerotherapy or laparoscopic fenestration. The safety and efficacy of both procedures has been explored in two recent systematic reviews yet no evident conclusion regarding superiority of either procedure could be drawn. The main objective of the ATLAS trial is to compare laparoscopic fenestration and aspiration sclerotherapy in patients with large symptomatic hepatic cysts on patient-reported outcomes.

Detailed description

Rationale: Patients with large hepatic cysts(\>5cm) may develop symptoms due to distention of Glisson's capsule and/or compression on other abdominal organs. Frequently reported symptoms include abdominal pain, early satiety, nausea, and dyspnea. These symptoms can be captured in the disease-specific Polycystic Liver Disease Questionnaire (PLD-Q), a validated instrument. The treatment of symptomatic liver cysts is aimed to improve symptoms and quality of life by reducing cyst volume. There are two procedures available to treat symptomatic liver cysts: percutaneous aspiration sclerotherapy and laparoscopic fenestration. In aspiration sclerotherapy, fluid is evacuated from the liver cyst and subsequently the cyst lining is exposed to a sclerosing agent for a limited period of time. Sclerotherapy causes temporary recurrence of cyst fluid after drainage, but subsequently results in a steady decrease of cyst volume in the majority of patients. In laparoscopic fenestration the liver is exposed through laparoscopic surgery. In this procedure the cyst is punctured and drained followed by resection of extra-hepatic cyst wall. The safety and efficacy of aspiration sclerotherapy and laparoscopic fenestration have been explored in two recent systematic reviews. No evident conclusion could be drawn because of the retrospective study design in the vast majority of the studies and the heterogeneity among these. A randomized controlled trial is warranted to identify the possible differences in safety and efficacy in aspiration sclerotherapy and laparoscopic fenestration. Hypothesis: The investigators expect patients treated with laparoscopic fenestration to have better clinical outcome; i.e. a lower PLD-Q score, compared to aspiration sclerotherapy, when measured 4 weeks after the procedure. The investigators expect this difference to become smaller over time (after 6 and 12 months), with loss of statistical significance. Objective: The main objective is to compare laparoscopic fenestration and aspiration sclerotherapy in patients with large symptomatic hepatic cysts on patient-reported outcomes. This information can be used to assess cost-effectiveness in both treatments. Study design: A prospective, randomized clinical superiority trial in which patients will be randomized 1:1 to one of the treatment arms. Patients will be followed for 1 year. Study population: All patients ≥18 years who are diagnosed with a dominant, simple hepatic cyst (\>5 cm in diameter), that are symptomatic (PLD-Q score ≥20) and have an indication for treatment (both aspiration sclerotherapy and laparoscopic fenestration) are suitable for inclusion in this study. Only patients that are eligible for both treatments can be included in this study. In particular, patients with multiple cysts (\>20 cysts of \>1.5 cm) will be excluded as surgery leads to more complications in these patients. Intervention: Patients will be randomly allocated to either aspiration sclerotherapy or laparoscopic fenestration. Both procedures are performed according to the standard Radboudumc protocols. Aspiration sclerotherapy consists of ultrasound-guided, percutaneous drainage of the cyst with subsequent sclerosation with ethanol. Laparoscopic fenestration consists of standard abdominal laparoscopy in which the large cyst(s) are drained and deroofed. Main study parameters: The main study parameter is the PLD-Q score at 4 weeks after treatment. Secondary parameters are among others: PLD-Q score at baseline, 6 months and 12 months; liver volume (CT) at baseline and 4 weeks; cyst volume (ultrasound) at baseline, 4 weeks, 6 months and 12 months; complications according to Clavien-Dindo; admission duration, recurrence and re-intervention rates.

Interventions

PROCEDUREaspiration sclerotherapy versus laparoscopic fenestration

See arm description

Sponsors

Radboud University Medical Center
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 75 Years
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* Age ≥18 years * Hepatic cyst characteristics: * Large (\>5 cm), * Symptomatic (PLD-Q score ≥20), * Non-parasitic on imaging (US/CT/MRI) * Non-neoplastic on imaging (US/CT/MRI) * Providing informed consent

Exclusion criteria

* Clinical indication of a complicated hepatic cyst (cyst rupture or active cyst infection) * Cyst is not laparoscopically accessible for surgery * Cyst is not percutaneously (ultrasound-guided) accessible for aspiration * More than 20 cysts of \>1.5 cm * Age above 75 years * ASA IV * ECOG score \>1 * Aspiration sclerotherapy or laparoscopic fenestration of hepatic cysts was performed in the last 6 months. * Severe renal impairment (eGFR \< 30 ml/min/1,73 m2) * Coagulopathy (spontaneous INR \>2 or platelet count \< 80 x 109/l) * Radiologic contrast allergy * Pregnancy * Any current or prior medical condition that may interfere with the conduct of the study or the evaluation of its results in the opinion of the investigator (e.g. inability to fill out questionnaires).

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
PLD-Q 4 weeks4 weeks after the procedureComparison of PLD-Q scores 4 weeks after the procedure, adjusted for baseline PLD-Q score.

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
PLD-Q invididual symptomsup to 12 monthsPLD-Q individual symptom scores at 1, 6 and 12 months after intervention, compared to baseline
SF-36 MCSup to 12 monthsSF-36 Mental Component Score at 1, 6 and 12 months after intervention, adjusted to baseline
SF 36 PCSup to 12 monthsSF-36 Physical Component Score at 1, 6 and 12 months after intervention, adjusted to baseline
EQ-5D-5Lup to 12 monthsEQ-5D-5L score at 1, 6 and 12 months after intervention, adjusted to baseline
Liver and cyst volumeup to 12 monthsLiver and cyst volume with CT before and 12 months after the intervention
Liver and cyst volume at recurrenceup to 12 monthsLiver and cyst volume in cases of recurrence of symptoms
PLD-Q score 1, 6 and 12 months after interventionup to 12 monthsPLD-Q score at 1, 6 and 12 months after intervention, adjusted for baseline
Adverse eventsup to 12 monthsAdverse events (according to Clavien-Dindo)
Technical successperiproceduralTechnical success
Hospital stayperiproceduralHospital stay in days
Re-intervention ratesup to 12 monthsRe-intervention rates during 12 months follow-up.
Cost-effectiveness iPCQup to 12 monthsCost-effectiveness of both procedures iPCQ 1, 6 and 12 months after intervention, adjusted for baseline
Cost-effectiveness iMCQup to 12 monthsCost-effectiveness of both procedures iMCQ 1, 6 and 12 months after intervention, adjusted for baseline
Cyst volume with USup to 12 monthsCyst volume with ultrasound, at baseline and 1, 6 and 12 months after intervention.

Countries

Netherlands

Contacts

Primary ContactJoost P.H. Drenth
joostphdrenth@cs.com+31 24 3619190
Backup ContactThijs Barten
thijs.rm.barten@radboudumc.nl+31 24 8186542

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026