Augmented Reality in Interventional Radiology: A Review of Systems, Ergonomics, Applications, and Outcomes

Abstract

Interventional radiology (IR) procedures traditionally rely on two-dimensional imaging for guidance. Augmented reality (AR) offers a transformative approach by overlaying two-dimensional radiological images or three-dimensional digital reconstructions onto the real-world environment, potentially improving procedural precision and operator ergonomics. This narrative literature review examines AR systems, procedural workflow, operator ergonomics, current clinical applications, and outcomes. Inclusion criteria include studies investigating AR in IR, excluding articles unrelated to IR procedures. Current literature suggests improved ergonomics, mainly enhanced depth perception, decreased eye movement/fatigue, and decreased cybersickness with overall operator tolerability. Clinical studies demonstrated reductions in radiation exposure and procedural times, with comparable accuracy to standard techniques. Limitations include the lack of large-scale clinical data and standardized evaluation metrics.

Keywords: augmented reality; interventional oncology; interventional radiology; mixed reality; virtual reality.