Back to search results

EMLA Cream for Pain During Lymphoscintigraphy in Skin Cancer Patients

This study is testing if EMLA topical cream can reduce pain for patients with skin cancers like melanoma, Merkel cell carcinoma, or squamous cell carcinoma. You might be eligible if you are having a lymphoscintigraphy procedure, which uses Technetium 99 injections to find lymph nodes that may contain cancer cells. These injections can sometimes be painful. This study aims to see if applying EMLA cream (a mix of lidocaine and prilocaine) to the skin before the injection can improve pain. Participants will be randomly assigned to receive either EMLA cream or a placebo cream. The main goal is to measure your pain score for up to one year after the procedure. The study is currently recruiting 100 participants.

Study design
This is an interventional study that will randomly assign 100 participants to one of two groups: EMLA cream or a placebo cream.
What's involved
You would apply either EMLA cream or a placebo cream to your skin 30 minutes before your Technetium 99 lymphoscintigraphy procedure.
Compensation
Not stated in the trial record.
Follow-up
Your pain score will be measured for up to one year after the procedure.

AI-generated from the public study record. Only the study team can confirm whether you're eligible — confirm details with them before making decisions.

NCT06223659

EMLA Topical Cream for Treatment of Pain in Patients Receiving Intra-Dermal Technetium 99 Injections for Lymphoscintigraphy for Skin Cancers

Recruiting
PHASE2Ages 18–99InterventionalTreatment
Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center
~100 participants
Updated 2026-03-10 on ClinicalTrials.gov
What's tested:Eutectic Mixture of Local AnestheticsPlacebo AdministrationQuestionnaire Administration

At a glance

Recruiting sites
1 of 1 listed site is recruiting right now
RecruitingSuspended, closed, or not yet open
What they're measuring
Pain score
Measured over Up to 1 year

Conditions

Cutaneous Melanoma
Merkel Cell Carcinoma
Skin Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Explore related trials

Cutaneous MelanomaMalignant Skin NeoplasmMerkel Cell CarcinomaSquamous Cell Carcinoma

Where it's being run

1 sites across 1 states
Ohio1

Study leadership

  • Carlo M Contreras, MD · PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR · Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center

Who to contact

The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center
[email protected]
800-293-5066
Email the study team

Opens a ready-to-send draft in your own email app — review before sending.

Do you actually qualify for this trial?

Add a private profile and we'll compare every criterion below against your situation — and tell you which ones are met, uncertain, or excluding.

Check eligibility for this trial ~2 min · HIPAA-protected · delete anytime
Eligibility criteria

Inclusion

Biologic males or females
18 - 99 years of age
Histologically confirmed cutaneous melanoma, Merkel cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, or other cutaneous malignancy for which lymphoscintigraphy and sentinel lymph node biopsy has been recommended.

Exclusion

Known allergy or intolerance to EMLA cream, lidocaine, prilocaine, or any other local anesthetic
History of adhesive allergy
Contraindication to Tc99 injection for sentinel lymph node mapping
Incarcerated patients
Patients incapable of independently providing consent
Mucosal or genital lymphoscintigraphy site
Pregnancy
Participant self-declared or Ohio State University (OSU) medical chart listing chronic pain as a pre-existing diagnosis
Participants with chronic pain as defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):"pain lasting 3 months or more that can be caused by a disease or condition, injury, medical treatment, or unknown reason" excluding those with stable co-morbid conditions such as peripheral neuropathy, fibromyalgia, arthritis, and cancer-related pain who do not require narcotics. Patients who require narcotics at any time within the 7-day period leading up to the procedure

What this trial measures

  • Pain scoreUp to 1 year

    Pain will be measured on a Defense and Veterans Pain Rating 10-point scale where 1 is the lowest measure of pain, and 10 is the highest pain. Will be analyzed using an independent samples t-test to compare the mean pain score of the two cohorts. Descriptive statistics of patient demographics and adverse events will also be reported.