Navigating the future of genitourinary cancer treatment: a decade of progress in image-guided surgery

Sep 21, 2026

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Letter analyzing how precision medicine is reshaping genitourinary cancer care over the past decade through image-guided surgery (IGS). Highlights a prostate-cancer-focused bibliometric study mapping global research output and identifying PSMA and PET/CT as persistent hotspots. Extends the perspective beyond prostate cancer to renal and bladder tumors, describing advances such as real-time ultrasound/CT/MRI, 3D imaging, augmented reality, fluorescence-guided approaches, and MRI–ultrasound fusion for improved visualization, surgical margins, nerve preservation, and functional recovery.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages2

Reading Time5 min

AccessFree to download

Precision shift in prostate cancer care

Bibliometric mapping of IGS research (2013–2023)

Expansion to renal surgery and bladder surgery

Advances in visualization, navigation, and surgical outcomes

’Correspondence Navigating the future of genitourinary cancer treatment: a decade of progress in image-guided surgery Ying Liu, PhDa , Aimin Jiang, PhDa , Jinxin Li, PhDa , Ziwei He, PhDa , Peng Luo, PhDb , Le Qu, PhDc,* , Linhui Wang, PhDa,* Dear Editor, In the past decade, the realm of prostate cancer (PCa) treatment has witnessed a transformative shift toward precision medicine, epitomized by the integration of image-guided surgery (IGS) . A recent comprehensive bibliometric study in the International Journal of Surgery titled ‘Knowledge mapping of application of image-guided surgery in prostate cancer: a bibliometric analysis (2013–2023)’ by Zeng and colleagues encapsulates this evolution, marking the ﬁrst of its kind to holistically chart the landscape of IGS in PCa[1] . This study not only illuminates the proliﬁc contributions spanning 75 countries and 2883 institutions but also underscores the United States’ pivotal role in steering global research efforts. This study not only offers a panoramic view of the current state of IGS in PCa but also provides a beacon for future research directions, emphasizing the critical role of PSMA (prostate-speciﬁc membrane antigen) and PET/CT (positron emission tomography/computed tomography) as enduring research hotspots. As we stand on the cusp of revolutionizing PCa treatment, this study serves as both a testament to our journey thus far and a compass for navigating the uncharted waters ahead. In addition to its widespread application in the treatment of PCa, the IGS system has also made signiﬁcant stridesin other urological cancers, including renal and bladder cancers. The utilization of IGS has signiﬁcantly advanced the ﬁeld of kidney surgeries, speciﬁcally in nephrectomy and partial nephrectomy procedures, through enhancements in tumor localization, delineation of tumor margins, and preservation of renal aDepartment of Urology, Changhai Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, bDepartment of Oncology, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou and cDepartment of Urology, Afﬁliated Jinling Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing, People ’s Republic of China Ying Liu, Aimin Jiang, Jinxin Li, Ziwei He, and Peng Luo contributed equally to this work. Sponsorships or competing interests that maybe relevant to content are disclosed atthe end of this article. *Corresponding authors. Address: Department of Urology, Changhai Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai 200433, People’s Republic of China. Tel.: +86 177 215 259 51. [E-mail: septsoul@smmu.edu.cn](E-mail: septsoul@smmu.edu.cn) (L. Qu), and Tel.: +86 139 016 355 10. [E-mail: wanglinhui@smmu.edu.cn](E-mail: wanglinhui@smmu.edu.cn) (L. Wang). Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 4.0, which allows others to remix, tweak, and build upon the work, even for commercial purposes, as long as the author is credited and the new creations are licensed under the identical terms. International Journal of Surgery (2024) 110:4506–4507 Received 17 March 2024; Accepted 24 March 2024 Published online 9 April 2024 [http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/JS9.0000000000001438](http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/JS9.0000000000001438) function. The incorporation of real-time ultrasound, CT, and MRI imaging technologies has empowered surgeons with intricate anatomical insights, facilitating precise tumor excision and maximal preservation of renal tissue. Recent innovations, such asthe integration of three-dimensional (3D) imaging and augmented reality (AR), have further enriched surgical planning and execution by providing surgeons with a holographic representation of the kidney’s anatomy and pathology. Prior studies have demonstrated the utility of 3D static and elastic AR systems that superimpose in-vivo anatomy during robot-assisted partial nephrectomy for complex tumors i

FAQs

What does the letter say about the role of image-guided surgery in prostate cancer treatment?

It describes IGS as a precision medicine enabler that improves surgical targeting and supports better tumor excision while helping preserve important structures and reduce post-operative complications.

What is emphasized as enduring research focus areas for prostate cancer IGS?

The letter highlights PSMA and PET/CT as persistent hotspots that continue to shape future research directions.

How does the letter extend IGS benefits beyond prostate cancer?

It notes progress in renal surgery (e.g., tumor localization and margin delineation) and bladder surgery (e.g., fluorescence-guided identification of cancerous tissue and improved resection accuracy), often supported by endoscopic and imaging techniques.

Sep 21, 2026

Upload by Noah