Image-guided surgery and emerging molecular imaging: advances to complement minimally invasive surgery.

Recent technologic advances have ushered in an era of surgery with a focus on development of minimally invasive surgical techniques. Specifically, robotic platforms, with robotic-assisted instrumentation, have helped overcome previous barriers to widespread adoption of laparoscopic surgery. Along these lines, image guidance will soon be incorporated into many laparoscopic/robotic procedures to improve surgeon ease, accuracy, and comfort with these complex operations. Thus, we explore recent advances in image-guided surgery and emerging molecular imaging technologies for minimally invasive urologic surgery.