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Volumetric Assessment of a Soft-Tissue Tumor Using Smartphone Light Detection and Ranging and Neural Radiance Fields:
Soma Nakaso1,2, Hyakuzoh Ueda1,2, Shimpei Ono2
1From the Department of Plastic and Aesthetic Surgery, Shonan Kamakura General Hospital, Kanagawa, Japan.
Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. Global Open
|May 11, 2026
Summary
Smartphone 3D scanning using light detection and ranging (LiDAR) and neural radiance fields (NeRFs) offers a fast, noninvasive method for soft-tissue tumor volume assessment. This technology shows promising accuracy for surgical planning and monitoring, even in resource-limited settings.
Area of Science:
- Medical Imaging
- Biotechnology
- Surgical Technology
Background:
- Accurate volumetric assessment of soft-tissue tumors is crucial for surgical planning and monitoring.
- Computed tomography (CT) is standard but involves radiation and infrastructure limitations.
- Smartphone-based LiDAR and NeRFs present a portable, noninvasive alternative with underexplored clinical potential.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the accuracy and feasibility of smartphone-based LiDAR and NeRF technology for volumetric assessment of a soft-tissue tumor.
- To compare smartphone-based measurements with conventional CT in a clinical case.
- To explore the potential of this technology for surgical planning and remote care.
Main Methods:
- A 75-year-old male patient with a posterior cervical lipoma underwent pre- and postoperative 3D data acquisition.
- Conventional CT and a smartphone-based LiDAR scanning application with NeRF rendering were used.
- Tumor volume was calculated by the difference in surface volume between two time points.
Main Results:
- Smartphone 3D scan estimated tumor volume at 145 mL, compared to 156 mL by CT, with a 7.0% error margin.
- The actual specimen weight (105 g) showed strong concordance with volumetric measurements.
- Scanning was rapid (<1 minute), noninvasive, and performed under standard clinical conditions.
Conclusions:
- Smartphone-based LiDAR and NeRF technology provides simple, fast, and accurate noninvasive volumetric assessment of soft-tissue masses.
- This technology holds significant potential for surgical planning, outpatient follow-up, and remote care, especially in resource-limited environments.
- Early evidence suggests this approach can be integrated into future clinical workflows.
