Michael Topf Archive — Page 1 of 1

June 30, 2026

Vanderbilt Health performs nation’s first breast cancer surgery using intraoperative PET-CT scan technology

The novel imaging technology provides surgical teams with a real-time view of tumor margins in the operating room, allowing them to quickly determine if the entire cancerous mass was removed.

By Evan Dorian
The surgical team included, from left, Michael Topf, MD, Kyrionna Golliday, Carleigh Burns, Marcus Balanky, Jo Chung, and Eben Rosenthal, MD.
October 10, 2025

VUMC performs nation’s first surgery using latest generation of intraoperative PET-CT scan technology 

PET-CT combines the functional information gained through PET with the structural details gained by a CT scan, aiding in early detection of recurrent disease.

By Evan Dorian
Michael Topf, MD, wears a model of a new head-mounted augmented reality system that can guide surgeons during operations to excise head and neck cancer.
August 26, 2025

Grant supports development of head-mounted augmented reality system to guide tumor resection 

The technology will allow surgeons to rely less on a fallible mental construction of the resection plane, thereby reducing the risk of human error affecting the procedure. 

By Evan Dorian