Vein Visualization Technology Opens a New Era in Breast Cancer Surgery

Vein visualization devices are traditionally used for difficult venous access, helping healthcare professionals quickly identify superficial veins for injection and blood collection.

However, researchers from Chiba University, Japan, discovered that vein visualization technology can also reveal detailed subcutaneous vein patterns in areas beyond the arms, including the breast region.

This finding provides a new approach for breast cancer surgery by using natural vein structures as anatomical references for surgical planning.

Three Innovative Applications in Breast Cancer Surgery

1. Precise Identification of Internal Mammary Vein Perforators

During mastectomy procedures, surgeons often need to identify, separate, and ligate internal mammary vein perforators.

Traditionally, this process relies heavily on surgical experience and anatomical knowledge, which may increase the risk of accidental vessel injury.

With vein visualization technology, surgeons can observe the distribution of subcutaneous veins before surgery and accurately identify important vascular structures.

Clinical Benefits:

• Helps locate internal mammary vein perforators in real time

• Reduces the risk of vascular damage

• Provides additional anatomical guidance during surgery

Because veins often run alongside arteries, visualizing veins may also indirectly assist surgeons in identifying nearby arterial structures.

2. Using Subcutaneous Veins as Natural Anatomical Markers

In some breast cancer patients, especially those with obesity or non-palpable lesions, ultrasound may have difficulty clearly defining tumor boundaries.

Researchers found that subcutaneous veins can act as stable anatomical landmarks.

By projecting and marking the vein network on the skin surface, surgeons can compare vein locations with CT imaging data and estimate lesion areas more accurately.

Clinical Benefits:

• Provides an additional reference when ultrasound images are unclear

• Helps define invisible lesion boundaries

• Supports more precise surgical planning

The vein network becomes a natural “road map” that connects external skin markings with internal anatomical structures.

3. Tracking Lesions After Medical Treatment

For some breast cancer patients, preoperative endocrine therapy can significantly shrink tumors, making lesions difficult to detect through conventional imaging methods.

However, subcutaneous vein patterns remain unchanged during treatment.

By comparing the relationship between veins and lesions before and after therapy, surgeons can use vein visualization as a stable reference system.

Clinical Benefits:

• Helps locate previously identified tumor areas

• Supports breast-conserving surgery planning

• Improves confidence in complete lesion removal

In the reported case, postoperative pathology confirmed negative surgical margins, indicating successful tumor removal.

Advantages of Vein Visualization Technology in Breast Surgery

A New Direction for Surgical Navigation

The study demonstrates that vein visualization technology is not limited to peripheral venous access.

By providing real-time visualization of subcutaneous vascular structures, it offers surgeons a simple, non-invasive, and repeatable method for understanding individual vascular anatomy.

Future applications may include:

• Breast cancer surgery assistance

• Plastic and reconstructive surgery

• Vascular mapping procedures

• Preoperative surgical planning

Conclusion

Vein visualization technology provides a new perspective for breast cancer surgery by transforming superficial veins into valuable anatomical navigation markers.

Through real-time vein mapping, surgeons can improve vascular identification, support lesion localization, and enhance surgical precision.

As medical imaging continues to evolve, vein visualization devices may become an important complementary tool for safer and more personalized surgical procedures.