Breast cancer surgery with augmented reality

Abstract

Introduction: Innovations in 3D spatial technology and augmented reality imaging driven by digital high-tech industrial science have accelerated experimental advances in breast cancer imaging and the development of medical procedures aimed to reduce invasiveness.

Presentation of case: A 57-year-old post-menopausal woman presented with screen-detected left-sided breast cancer. After undergoing all staging and pre-operative studies the patient was proposed for conservative breast surgery with tumor localization. During surgery, an experimental digital and non-invasive intra-operative localization method with augmented reality was compared with the standard pre-operative localization with carbon tattooing (institutional protocol). The breast surgeon wearing an augmented reality headset (Hololens) was able to visualize the tumor location projection inside the patient's left breast in the usual supine position.

Discussion: This work describes, to our knowledge, the first experimental test with a digital non-invasive method for intra-operative breast cancer localization using augmented reality to guide breast conservative surgery. In this case, a successful overlap of the previous standard pre-operative marks with carbon tattooing and tumor visualization inside the patient's breast with augmented reality was obtained.

Conclusion: Breast cancer conservative guided surgery with augmented reality can pave the way for a digital non-invasive method for intra-operative tumor localization.