Rapid Arbitrary-Shape Microscopy of Unsectioned Tissues for Precise Intraoperative Tumor Margin Assessment

Area of Science:

• Medical technology
• Pathology
• Surgical oncology

Background:

• Intraoperative tumor margin assessment is vital for effective cancer surgery.
• Current methods face limitations due to tissue sampling and lengthy processing.
• Need for rapid, accurate, and non-destructive margin evaluation exists.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce and evaluate the Rapid Arbitrary-Shape Microscope (RAM) system.
• To assess RAM's efficacy in high-speed, 3D microscopy of irregular tissue surfaces.
• To determine RAM's accuracy in detecting residual cancer cells at surgical margins.

Main Methods:

• Development of a bedside imaging system integrating 3D scanning and robotics.
• High-speed, 3D microscopy of irregular tissue surfaces without sectioning.
• Evaluation in mouse liver/spleen metastatic tumor models and human skin cancer samples.

Main Results:

• RAM achieved 99.1% sensitivity and 82.9% specificity in detecting positive margins in mouse models.
• Provided cellular-resolution images within minutes, preserving tissue morphology.
• Validated on human skin cancer samples using non-destructive imaging.

Conclusions:

• RAM offers a rapid and accurate solution for intraoperative tumor margin examination.
• The system has the potential to reduce surgical time and improve patient outcomes.
• RAM minimizes the risk of overlooking residual cancer at surgical margins.