A woman in Scotland has become the first person to undergo a hologram-assisted operation to remove a tumour from her neck. Susannah Morgan was told that the pleomorphic adenoma in her neck could be removed, but that she risked permanent paralysis and a disfiguring dent in her neck. Instead of risking these side effects, Morgan paid for a high-tech MRI scan in London which produced a hologram of the tumour. The hologram was used by the surgeon Iain Nixon to pinpoint the exact location of the facial nerve and enable him to open up the salivary gland rather than removing it.
After the surgery, Morgan’s smile was temporarily crooked due to the nerve being moved to access the tumour. Although she was upset at first, she said that she is thrilled with the outcome and grateful to have retained her smile. Nixon commented that the hologram-assisted technique means surgery can be more minimally invasive and have fewer side effects, making such procedures even safer.
Morgan first visited a doctor in November 2012 after finding a lump under her ear. However, it was dismissed as a salivary stone and she was advised to eat sour sweets to encourage salivary flow. A year later, Morgan returned to a doctor when the lump grew and was found to be a tumour. Nixon said that the pioneering technology is exciting and that it could become standard in the future.
The operation performed on Morgan is part of a wider trend towards hologram use in medicine. Holograms, which produce in-depth, interactive images, are increasingly being used to create virtual hospitals, train doctors and present symptoms and diagnoses to patients. Experts note that as hologram technology develops, it will become increasingly ubiquitous within healthcare
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