The neurosurgery program at Kingston Health Sciences Centre (KHSC) has achieved a Canadian first, using a handheld imaging device to see brain tumour cells in real time during surgery — helping guide more precise tumour removal and improve patient outcomes, while advancing the field of neurosurgery.
Drs. Jamie Purzner and Teresa Purzner used the device, known as Convivo, during a recent operation on Rick Savoie, a patient with a recurring glioblastoma tumour, the most aggressive form of brain cancer.
He was first diagnosed in September 2024 after arriving at the emergency department with worsening speech and memory issues. This most recent surgery — his fourth — was required after the tumour returned.
“This technology allows us to see cancer tissue at a cellular level in real time, directly in the operating room,” said Dr. James Purzner. “It’s essentially bringing a form of a microscope into the OR, so instead of waiting on results from the lab, we can make decisions based on what we’re seeing instantly.”
Developed by German manufacturer ZEISS, the device uses fluorescence and advanced optical imaging to generate detailed images of glowing cancer tissue, allowing surgeons to identify areas that may appear normal to the naked eye but have cellular features consistent with cancer.
“What that means in real-life terms is we can identify areas that look normal but may still contain tumour cells,” said Dr. Jamie Purzner. “It also creates a large volume of imaging data that can eventually be used to teach artificial intelligence models to help identify cancer in real time.”
During Savoie’s surgery, the team first removed as much of the tumour as possible using standard surgical techniques. Once it looked like the brain tumour was fully removed, the device was used to identify a small area that still appeared suspicious.
“In brain surgery, we’re constantly balancing how much tumour we remove while still protecting the critical function of healthy brain tissue,” said Dr. Teresa Purzner. “This gave us additional confidence to remove tissue that otherwise looked normal but was actually cancerous.”
The team was able to achieve a gross total resection — meaning no tumour remained — while preserving Savoie’s language function, despite the tumour being in a highly sensitive area of the brain that controls speech.
“That final decision made a difference,” said Dr. Teresa Purzner. “We were able to fully remove the tumour while preserving Rick’s ability to speak, which is exactly the outcome we aim for.”
The procedure was particularly complex because Savoie was unable to undergo an awake craniotomy — a common technique used to map and protect critical brain function during surgery.
“For this type of tumour, surgical precision matters enormously,” said Dr. Teresa Purzner. “When other treatment options are limited, removing as much tumour as possible can have a meaningful impact on a patient’s quality of life.”
Savoie said he was eager to move forward with the new approach, even knowing it was the first time it would be used in Canada.
“I was willing to try anything. Without this option, it would have been the end of the road. There were no other treatments available for me. This surgery has given me more time with my family and I am so lucky.”
Beyond its clinical use, the technology is expected to support the future of more personalized cancer care.
“It creates an opportunity to connect what we see in the operating room with what we understand in the lab,” said Dr. Jamie Purzner. “Over time, that can help guide more precise treatment decisions.”
For Savoie, the impact has been immediate.
“After my first surgery, I had to relearn how to talk, count and write,” he said. “Now, after this surgery I woke up and have been able to speak and live life normally. I am feeling good. I feel like I am closer to 40 years old than 66.”
Savoie said he also hopes his experience will help others face similar diagnoses.
“We felt that if this could help improve brain surgery for other patients, I wanted to do it.”
