Breast Magnetic Resonance Image Analysis for Surgeons Using Virtual Reality: A Comparative Study.

The treatment of breast cancer, the leading cause of cancer and cancer mortality among women worldwide, is mainly on the basis of surgery. In this study, we describe the use of a medical image visualization tool on the basis of virtual reality (VR), entitled DIVA, in the context of breast cancer tumor localization among surgeons. The aim of this study was to evaluate the speed and accuracy of surgeons using DIVA for medical image analysis of breast magnetic resonance image (MRI) scans relative to standard image slice-based visualization tools. In our study, residents and practicing surgeons used two breast MRI reading modalities: the common slice-based radiology interface and the DIVA system in its VR mode. Metrics measured were compared in relation to postoperative anatomical-pathologic reports. Eighteen breast surgeons from the Institut Curie performed all the analysis presented. The MRI analysis time was significantly lower with the DIVA system than with the slice-based visualization for residents, practitioners, and subsequently the entire group ( This study indicates that the VR visualization of medical images systematically improves surgeons' analysis of preoperative breast MRI scans across several different metrics irrespective of surgeon seniority.