Doctors at Manchester Royal Infirmary use the latest computer technology to take 3D images of cancer tumours.

That image is then beamed onto a wall in the operating theatre to guide the surgeon during the procedure.

We can move the image around while at the same time holding the tumour inside the patient's body

Rory McCloy, consultant surgeon

This enables surgeons to decide how to remove the tumour.

"We work with cancers in the liver or pancreas," says Mr Rory McCloy, a consultant surgeon at the hospital.

"These tumours are deep inside the abdomen. It is major surgery to get these cancers out. If you cut across the tumour you can spread the cancer around the body.

"By looking at the scan on the wall, we can almost practise before we start to try to remove it.

"We can move the image around while at the same time holding the tumour inside the patient's body."

Early stages

Mr McCloy first used the technology during an operation on one patient in April. He is now planning to use it more widely over the coming months.

The image of the tumour can be rotated

He will also examine whether the technology improves the surgical procedure and if it benefits patients.

"We are going to do a series of patients over the next 12 months to demonstrate how much it increases the accuracy of the surgery and benefits patients," he told BBC News Online.

"During that time we will also be looking to see whether we can link other hospitals in the area to the computer."

The system is based on Visual Area Network technology developed by computer company SGI.

Surgeons are able to move the image by using a joystick. SGI is currently working on new technology which would enable the image to be rotated by voice commands or simple gestures. This would overcome hygiene fears about the joystick.

Chodi Reynolds, a director at SGI, said the company was committed to developing technology to help the medical sector.

"Medical professionals now have, right in the operating room or medical office, the visualisation capabilities previously available only on high-end graphics computers."