Researchers are beginning to explore the use of artificial intelligence for early detection of head and neck cancer, including oral cancer, according to a study published in the Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery.
The American Cancer Society reports:
- About 60, 480 new cases per year in the U.S. of oral cavity or oropharyngeal cancer.
- About 13,150 deaths per year in the U.S. from oral cavity or oropharyngeal cancer.
Although the research is in its preliminary stages, the ultimate goal is to use AI along with imaging, pathology, and genomic data to diagnose and treat oral cancer cases earlier. It may one day be possible to identify high risk patients who have not yet been diagnosed with oral cancer as well as to more accurately assess the probability of cancer recurrence in previously diagnosed patients. This information may improve survival rates.
Researchers caution that integrating AI into clinical protocols is a time consuming process and there are many obstacles to overcome. However, AI advances are occurring at a rapid rate in all fields, including medicine and dentistry.
