Breast cancers: noninvasive method of preoperative localization with three-dimensional US and surface contour mapping

Formal ethical approval was granted by the local research ethics committee; all participants gave written consent. The purpose of the study was to prospectively evaluate the feasibility of a noninvasive method of breast tumor localization in 25 participants, based on the coregistration of three-dimensional (3D) ultrasonographic (US) data with surface contour data obtained by using a 3D laser camera. The tumor is segmented from the US data, and a surface-rendered 3D image of the tumor, in relation to the breast surface contour, is produced. From a personal computer in the operating room, the surgeon can dynamically view a 3D image of the tumor within the breast. This noninvasive method was equivalent to conventional techniques in 18 of 25 patients but was less successful in larger-breasted patients. In selected patients, this localization method could provide an alternative to conventional invasive techniques and can offer both spatial localization and tumor morphology.