Glasses-free three-dimensional laparoscopic systems in oncologic surgery: Innovation or equivalence?

The development of minimally invasive surgery has transformed the management of gastrointestinal cancer. Notably, three-dimensional visualization systems have increased surgical precision. This editorial discusses a recent study by Shen and Zhang, which compared the clinical applications of naked-eye three-dimensional laparoscopic systems vs traditional optical systems in radical surgery for gastric and colorectal cancer. Both systems appeared to yield comparable surgical and oncological outcomes in terms of safety parameters, operating times, and quality of lymph node dissection. However, the spectacle-free system's technical and logistical limitations hindered its effects on the surgical team's overall competency. This editorial examines the authors' findings within the broader context of the evolution of oncologic laparoscopy, discusses the relevance of the results in light of the current literature, and proposes future research directions focused on multicenter validation, comprehensive ergonomic analysis, and technological advancements aimed at enhancing intraoperative collaboration. As technology continues to evolve, clinical implementation of new methods must be supported by robust scientific evidence and standardized criteria, to ensure tangible improvements in efficiency, safety, and oncologic outcomes.