As part of the 2026 Chinese Guidelines for Holistic Integrative Oncology Management, the Chinese Guidelines for Holistic Integrative Oncology Management — Holographic Imaging Technology was officially released as the world’s first guideline dedicated to this field.By integrating artificial intelligence with advanced imaging reconstruction, holographic imaging technology transforms conventional two-dimensional CT and MRI scans into three-dimensional digital holographic models. The technology is reshaping preoperative planning, intraoperative navigation, medical education, and physician–patient communication in urologic oncology.
As editor-in-chief of the guideline and Chair of the Integrative Rehabilitation Committee for Urologic and Male Genital Tumors of the Chinese Anti-Cancer Association (CACA), Professor Gang Zhu discussed the principles, clinical applications, future directions, and broader implications of AI-driven holographic imaging in an exclusive interview with Oncology Frontier.
Core Topic
Application of Holographic Imaging Technology in Organ Function Preservation for Urologic Tumors
Oncology Frontier:
Professor Zhu, thank you for joining us. In your presentation, you highlighted the role of AI-assisted holographic imaging in organ-preserving urologic oncology surgery. Could you explain how this technology works and what fundamental advantages it offers over traditional two-dimensional imaging?
Professor Gang Zhu:
Today I delivered a lecture entitled “Application of Holographic Imaging Technology in Organ Function Preservation for Urologic Tumors.” When people hear the term “holographic imaging,” they often think of optical holograms like those seen in science fiction films such as Star Wars, where three-dimensional images are projected using complex light sources.
With advances in modern technology, particularly artificial intelligence, we can now construct digital holographic images without relying on complicated optical systems. In medicine, AI converts traditional two-dimensional CT, MRI, and even ultrasound images into three-dimensional digital holographic reconstructions.
Human vision naturally perceives the world in three dimensions, whereas conventional medical imaging is displayed in two dimensions. This creates an inherent gap between medical images and actual anatomy. Physicians learn through years of training to mentally reconstruct three-dimensional anatomy from two-dimensional scans, but for patients this process is extremely difficult.
After AI converts conventional imaging into holographic three-dimensional models, patients can intuitively understand their anatomy. The images can be rotated dynamically and viewed from any angle, clearly demonstrating the location of the lesion and its relationship to surrounding blood vessels and critical structures. This greatly improves communication between physicians and patients and helps patients better understand their surgical plans.
The technology also has significant value in medical education. Traditionally, anatomy training depended heavily on cadaver dissection. Now, by reconstructing full-body CT data into holographic models, students can visualize detailed anatomical relationships in three dimensions, including structures such as the ureters, intrarenal collecting system, and hilar vasculature. This will profoundly influence the future of medical training.
Clinically, holographic imaging is primarily used for preoperative planning. Surgeons can enlarge and manipulate the images before surgery, allowing precise planning of the operative approach. During surgery, holographic navigation can be integrated with live endoscopic views, effectively giving surgeons a “see-through” capability that reveals structures beneath the tissue surface.
The Chinese Anti-Cancer Association has now formally incorporated holographic imaging technology into its newly released technical guidelines. I participated in drafting the guideline together with multidisciplinary experts from hepatobiliary, thoracic, and other surgical specialties. The technology is already being applied across multiple surgical disciplines, including head and neck surgery. By improving surgical planning and navigation, holographic imaging allows surgeons to perform procedures more precisely while maximizing organ function preservation.
Clinical Applications and Real-World Impact
Oncology Frontier:
Could you share some clinical examples illustrating how this technology has helped preserve organs and organ function in practice?
Professor Gang Zhu:
That is an excellent question, because the true value of any new technology depends on whether it improves patient care.
I began using holographic imaging technology in 2017, and over time I have become increasingly convinced of its clinical utility. Currently, we mainly apply the technology in renal tumors and adrenal tumors.
In renal tumor surgery, preserving kidney function is critically important. The kidney is an extremely vascular organ, and injury to the renal artery or vein can result in severe bleeding and major complications. Holographic imaging allows surgeons to fully understand the vascular anatomy before surgery and plan procedures with greater precision.
The key to organ preservation is retaining as much normal renal tissue as possible. Some renal tumors are deeply embedded within the renal parenchyma or located near the renal hilum, where the vessels and collecting system are densely concentrated. Damage to these structures can have serious consequences.
Holographic imaging clearly demonstrates the relationship between the tumor, blood vessels, and collecting system, enabling surgeons to achieve complete tumor resection while preserving critical anatomy and maximizing functional kidney tissue.
The technology has also proven valuable in adrenal surgery. Certain adrenal tumors, such as aldosterone-producing adenomas, can be extremely small. We once successfully removed a tumor measuring only 6 millimeters in diameter. Such lesions are difficult even to localize on CT imaging.
Using holographic imaging combined with intraoperative ultrasound guidance, we were able to precisely identify and completely remove the lesion, leading to a cure for the patient.
These experiences demonstrate that holographic imaging is not simply a theoretical innovation, but a clinically valuable technology with real benefits for patients.
The Future of AI Holographic Imaging
Oncology Frontier:
As editor-in-chief of the world’s first guideline dedicated to holographic imaging technology, how do you envision the future development of this field?
Professor Gang Zhu:
Previously, this technology was described using a variety of terms, including “3D reconstruction” and “augmented reality.” One of the important contributions of the Chinese Anti-Cancer Association was standardizing the terminology under the unified name “holographic imaging technology.”
This guideline is not only China’s first guideline in this field, but also the first globally. Establishing standardized terminology helps reduce confusion and facilitates broader clinical adoption and international collaboration.
Although my own specialty is urology, the guideline was developed through extensive multidisciplinary collaboration involving experts from hepatobiliary surgery, thyroid surgery, thoracic surgery, and head and neck surgery. All of these specialties are already using similar technologies.
I believe holographic imaging has tremendous future potential in oncologic surgery and organ function preservation. It reflects the growing global leadership of Chinese innovation and Chinese AI technologies in medicine.
Current Challenges and Future Directions
Oncology Frontier:
From a clinical perspective, what aspects of holographic imaging technology still need improvement?
Professor Gang Zhu:
Although holographic imaging has already achieved impressive progress, it is far from perfect. In medicine, no technology is ever truly complete; continuous refinement is always necessary.
One important issue is patient privacy. Currently, image reconstruction often requires transferring imaging data to specialized external companies for processing. Protecting patient data during this process is a significant concern.
To address this, companies are now developing systems that can be directly deployed within hospital radiology departments, allowing holographic models to be generated locally without transmitting patient data outside the institution.
Another challenge involves real-time intraoperative navigation. Surgery is dynamic rather than static. While fusing holographic images with endoscopic views is relatively straightforward in a stationary environment, organs such as the liver and kidney deform during surgery. Achieving accurate real-time tracking and navigation remains technically difficult.
However, meaningful progress is already being made, and I believe truly real-time holographic surgical navigation will become achievable in the near future.
Integrative Oncology and the Changing Role of Surgeons
Oncology Frontier:
Under the framework of integrative medicine, the role of urologic surgeons has evolved beyond simply performing operations. How has this changed your own clinical decision-making?
Professor Gang Zhu:
As oncologic surgeons, we should not define ourselves merely as technical operators.
Cancer management requires a comprehensive perspective that extends from preoperative evaluation to postoperative follow-up and long-term disease management.
Before surgery, we must consider whether patients need neoadjuvant therapies, including chemotherapy, antibody-drug conjugates, or immune checkpoint inhibitors. During treatment, we may need to integrate interventional approaches. After surgery, decisions regarding adjuvant chemotherapy, radiotherapy, or immunotherapy must also be carefully evaluated.
Long-term follow-up is equally critical because malignant tumors carry risks of recurrence and metastasis. Continuous monitoring allows timely detection and intervention.
Today, the oncology community increasingly emphasizes that approximately 40% of cancers are preventable, 30% can be detected early and cured, and the remaining 30% can still benefit from therapies that prolong survival and improve quality of life.
Therefore, oncologic surgeons must adopt a truly global perspective and provide recommendations aligned with modern integrative oncology principles.
Expert Profile
Professor Gang Zhu Chair, Integrative Rehabilitation Committee for Urologic and Male Genital Tumors, Chinese Anti-Cancer Association (CACA)
