Identification of positive margins during breast cancer conserving surgery is crucial for successful tumor resection. To address this clinical need, we developed a microscope that combines fluorescent microscopy, optical coherence tomography (OCT), and reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM) to identify the presence of positive tumor margins in surgical specimens. A cancer-targeting fluorescent agent is used to highlight potentially positive margins and guide combined RCM/OCT imaging. Combined RCM/OCT is used to accurately determine the extent of the positive margins, aided by custom image-processing techniques. This instrument has the potential to provide tumor margin guidance in the surgical suite, reducing reliance on lengthy histopathological inquiry and reducing the need for repeated surgery.
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