Interactive Shape Sonification for Tumor Localization in Breast Cancer Surgery

About 20 percent of patients undergoing breast-conserving surgery requirereoperation due to cancerous tissue remaining inside the breast. Breast cancerlocalization systems utilize auditory feedback to convey the distance between alocalization probe and a small marker (seed) implanted into the breast tumorprior to surgery. However, no information on the location of the tumor marginis provided. To reduce the reoperation rate by improving the usability andaccuracy of the surgical task, we developed an auditory display using shapesonification to assist with tumor margin localization. Accuracy and usabilityof the interactive shape sonification were determined on models of the femalebreast in three user studies with both breast surgeons and non-clinicalparticipants. The comparative studies showed a significant increase inusability (p<0.05) and localization accuracy (p<0.001) of the shapesonification over the auditory feedback currently used in surgery.