Post by DTU - Technical University of Denmark

What if surgeons could know during surgery whether all cancer had been removed?   For many cancer patients, the answer does not come until days - and sometimes even weeks - later.   That waiting time matters. Because if cancerous tissue remains, the patient may need a second operation, radiation therapy, or chemotherapy.   Researchers at DTU are working to change that.   By combining 3D ultrasound, mid-infrared imaging, micro-CT, and artificial intelligence, they aim to give surgeons a clearer answer while the patient is still in the operating room.   The goal is simple and ambitious: to help remove all cancerous tissue during the first surgery.   "For patients, it is absolutely crucial that we can cure them with the first operation without the need for double treatment with many long-term consequences," says Tobias Todsen, clinical professor at DTU and senior physician at the Department of Otolaryngology and Audiology at Rigshospitalet.   The technology is initially being tested on patients with oral or skin cancer, but its potential extends far beyond to other types of cancer where surgery is performed. If the project succeeds, it will mean higher survival rates, better quality of life for patients, and significant savings for the healthcare system. The research is part of the AIMICS project, supported by the Innovation Fund Denmark with approximately DKK 30 million. The project brings together DTU, Rigshospitalet, and 3Sonic as part of TUH - Technical University Hospital of Greater Copenhagen. #DTUdk #HealthTech