The use of artificial intelligence models to predict survival in patients with laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma

Current Applications of the Three-Dimensional Printing Technology in Neurosurgery: A Review

BACKGROUND

 In the recent years, three-dimensional (3D) printing technology has emerged as a transformative tool, particularly in health care, offering unprecedented possibilities in neurosurgery. This review explores the diverse applications of 3D printing in neurosurgery, assessing its impact on precision, customization, surgical planning, and education.

METHODS

 A literature review was conducted using PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and Scopus, identifying 84 relevant articles. These were categorized into spine applications, neurovascular applications, neuro-oncology applications, neuroendoscopy applications, cranioplasty applications, and modulation/stimulation applications.

RESULTS

 3D printing applications in spine surgery showcased advancements in guide devices, prosthetics, and neurosurgical planning, with patient-specific models enhancing precision and minimizing complications. Neurovascular applications demonstrated the utility of 3D-printed guide devices in intracranial hemorrhage and enhanced surgical planning for cerebrovascular diseases. Neuro-oncology applications highlighted the role of 3D printing in guide devices for tumor surgery and improved surgical planning through realistic models. Neuroendoscopy applications emphasized the benefits of 3D-printed guide devices, anatomical models, and educational tools. Cranioplasty applications showed promising outcomes in patient-specific implants, addressing biomechanical considerations.

DISCUSSION

 The integration of 3D printing into neurosurgery has significantly advanced precision, customization, and surgical planning. Challenges include standardization, material considerations, and ethical issues. Future directions involve integrating artificial intelligence, multimodal imaging fusion, biofabrication, and global collaboration.

CONCLUSION

 3D printing has revolutionized neurosurgery, offering tailored solutions, enhanced surgical planning, and invaluable educational tools. Addressing challenges and exploring future innovations will further solidify the transformative impact of 3D printing in neurosurgical care. This review serves as a comprehensive guide for researchers, clinicians, and policymakers navigating the dynamic landscape of 3D printing in neurosurgery.

Artificial Intelligence in Head and Neck Cancer: Innovations, Applications, and Future Directions

Artificial intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing head and neck cancer (HNC) care by providing innovative tools that enhance diagnostic accuracy and personalize treatment strategies. This review highlights the advancements in AI technologies, including deep learning and natural language processing, and their applications in HNC. The integration of AI with imaging techniques, genomics, and electronic health records is explored, emphasizing its role in early detection, biomarker discovery, and treatment planning. Despite noticeable progress, challenges such as data quality, algorithmic bias, and the need for interdisciplinary collaboration remain. Emerging innovations like explainable AI, AI-powered robotics, and real-time monitoring systems are poised to further advance the field. Addressing these challenges and fostering collaboration among AI experts, clinicians, and researchers is crucial for developing equitable and effective AI applications. The future of AI in HNC holds significant promise, offering potential breakthroughs in diagnostics, personalized therapies, and improved patient outcomes.

Prognosing post-treatment outcomes of head and neck cancer using structured data and machine learning: A systematic review

BACKGROUND

This systematic review aimed to evaluate the performance of machine learning (ML) models in predicting post-treatment survival and disease progression outcomes, including recurrence and metastasis, in head and neck cancer (HNC) using clinicopathological structured data.

METHODS

A systematic search was conducted across the Medline, Scopus, Embase, Web of Science, and Google Scholar databases. The methodological characteristics and performance metrics of studies that developed and validated ML models were assessed. The risk of bias was evaluated using the Prediction model Risk Of Bias ASsessment Tool (PROBAST).

RESULTS

Out of 5,560 unique records, 34 articles were included. For survival outcome, the ML model outperformed the Cox proportional hazards model in time-to-event analyses for HNC, with a concordance index of 0.70-0.79 vs. 0.66-0.76, and for all sub-sites including oral cavity (0.73-0.89 vs. 0.69-0.77) and larynx (0.71-0.85 vs. 0.57-0.74). In binary classification analysis, the area under the receiver operating characteristics (AUROC) of ML models ranged from 0.75-0.97, with an F1-score of 0.65-0.89 for HNC; AUROC of 0.61-0.91 and F1-score of 0.58-0.86 for the oral cavity; and AUROC of 0.76-0.97 and F1-score of 0.63-0.92 for the larynx. Disease-specific survival outcomes showed higher performance than overall survival outcomes, but the performance of ML models did not differ between three- and five-year follow-up durations. For disease progression outcomes, no time-to-event metrics were reported for ML models. For binary classification of the oral cavity, the only evaluated subsite, the AUROC ranged from 0.67 to 0.97, with F1-scores between 0.53 and 0.89.

CONCLUSIONS

ML models have demonstrated considerable potential in predicting post-treatment survival and disease progression, consistently outperforming traditional linear models and their derived nomograms. Future research should incorporate more comprehensive treatment features, emphasize disease progression outcomes, and establish model generalizability through external validations and the use of multicenter datasets.

Is ChatGPT accurate and reliable in answering questions regarding head and neck cancer?

Background and objective

Chat Generative Pre-trained Transformer (ChatGPT) is an artificial intelligence (AI)-based language processing model using deep learning to create human-like text dialogue. It has been a popular source of information covering vast number of topics including medicine. Patient education in head and neck cancer (HNC) is crucial to enhance the understanding of patients about their medical condition, diagnosis, and treatment options. Therefore, this study aims to examine the accuracy and reliability of ChatGPT in answering questions regarding HNC.

Methods

154 head and neck cancer-related questions were compiled from sources including professional societies, institutions, patient support groups, and social media. These questions were categorized into topics like basic knowledge, diagnosis, treatment, recovery, operative risks, complications, follow-up, and cancer prevention. ChatGPT was queried with each question, and two experienced head and neck surgeons assessed each response independently for accuracy and reproducibility. Responses were rated on a scale: (1) comprehensive/correct, (2) incomplete/partially correct, (3) a mix of accurate and inaccurate/misleading, and (4) completely inaccurate/irrelevant. Discrepancies in grading were resolved by a third reviewer. Reproducibility was evaluated by repeating questions and analyzing grading consistency.

Results

ChatGPT yielded "comprehensive/correct" responses to 133/154 (86.4%) of the questions whereas, rates of "incomplete/partially correct" and "mixed with accurate and inaccurate data/misleading" responses were 11% and 2.6%, respectively. There were no "completely inaccurate/irrelevant" responses. According to category, the model provided "comprehensive/correct" answers to 80.6% of questions regarding "basic knowledge", 92.6% related to "diagnosis", 88.9% related to "treatment", 80% related to "recovery - operative risks - complications - follow-up", 100% related to "cancer prevention" and 92.9% related to "other". There was not any significant difference between the categories regarding the grades of ChatGPT responses (p=0.88). The rate of reproducibility was 94.1% (145 of 154 questions).

Conclusion

ChatGPT generated substantially accurate and reproducible information to diverse medical queries related to HNC. Despite its limitations, it can be a useful source of information for both patients and medical professionals. With further developments in the model, ChatGPT can also play a crucial role in clinical decision support to provide the clinicians with up-to-date information.

Enhancing head and neck tumor management with artificial intelligence: Integration and perspectives

Head and neck tumors (HNTs) constitute a multifaceted ensemble of pathologies that primarily involve regions such as the oral cavity, pharynx, and nasal cavity. The intricate anatomical structure of these regions poses considerable challenges to efficacious treatment strategies. Despite the availability of myriad treatment modalities, the overall therapeutic efficacy for HNTs continues to remain subdued. In recent years, the deployment of artificial intelligence (AI) in healthcare practices has garnered noteworthy attention. AI modalities, inclusive of machine learning (ML), neural networks (NNs), and deep learning (DL), when amalgamated into the holistic management of HNTs, promise to augment the precision, safety, and efficacy of treatment regimens. The integration of AI within HNT management is intricately intertwined with domains such as medical imaging, bioinformatics, and medical robotics. This article intends to scrutinize the cutting-edge advancements and prospective applications of AI in the realm of HNTs, elucidating AI's indispensable role in prevention, diagnosis, treatment, prognostication, research, and inter-sectoral integration. The overarching objective is to stimulate scholarly discourse and invigorate insights among medical practitioners and researchers to propel further exploration, thereby facilitating superior therapeutic alternatives for patients.