Multimodal Hypersprectal Imaging and Raman Spectroscopy for Intraoperative Assessment of Breast Tumor Resection Margins

Introduction

The Spectra-BREAST project aims to revolutionize the assessment of tumor resection margins during breast conserving surgery (BCS). Currently, approximately 20% of breast cancer patients require a second operation due to incomplete removal of cancerous tissue. This results in increased costs for the healthcare system and significant negative effects on patients’ well-being.

Current Assessment Procedures

Nowadays, the standard margin assessment procedure is postoperative histopathological specimen analysis, which takes several days to complete. Although intraoperative histopathological analysis on frozen tissue is possible, it is less effective and cannot be implemented in all clinical centers.

Limitations of Alternative Techniques

Alternative techniques have been suggested but have low diagnostic performance or take excessive time to assess the entire resected specimen.

Project Objectives

Spectra-BREAST aims to support surgeons with an intraoperative tool providing accurate and actionable feedback on the resection margin status over the whole specimen in less than 5 minutes.

Innovative Approach

To this end, we will apply a radically new, high-risk multimodal approach combining two optical techniques:

1. Hyperspectral Imaging (HSI)
2. Fiber-optic Raman Spectroscopy (RS)

These will be integrated with AI-based data analysis. HSI and AI will be used for fast and sensitive detection of suspicious margins, which are subsequently analyzed by RS. A second AI will make the final prediction on the RS spectra.

Ambitions and Applications

The ambition is to identify tumors on and below the resection surface (up to a depth of 2 mm), with an unprecedented high sensitivity and specificity (over 95%) in real-time.

Broader Implications

Spectra-BREAST also has the potential for wider applications, including:

• Margin assessment for other cancers
• Robotic/laparoscopic surgery
• Guided biopsy

Expected Outcomes

Finally, Spectra-BREAST will offer an objective technology reducing variability between patients. Most importantly, it will improve patient outcomes such as:

• Reduced hospital stays
• Fewer complications
• Lower anxiety
• Improved cosmetic outcomes