HOW CAN ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE SUPPORT HEAD AND NECK CANCER TREATMENT

The IAEA – International Atomic Energy Agency has launched a new two-year coordinated research project to explore how artificial intelligence can assist with #contouring — a crucial step in cancer treatment, in which a tumour and the surrounding tissues are outlined to guide the delivery of radiation therapy.

“Missteps during contouring can significantly impact treatment outcomes — be it from missing the tumours or irradiating normal tissues unnecessarily,” noted Tomoaki Tamaki, Head of Applied Radiation Biology and Radiotherapy in the IAEA Division of Human Health.
Artificial intelligence (AI) tools such as deep learning-based algorithms can be valuable as previous studies have shown a reduction in contouring time and variation.

The study will be conducted in two phases. The first phase it will compare AI assistance with and without explainability to manual contouring. The second phase will investigate bias risks with and without explainability. An optional third phase will explore how to best visualize and present these AI explanations.
Participants in the project will be randomly assigned to groups for contouring tasks and will also take part in the IAEA led teaching sessions.
How to join this CRP:
This CRP is open to all Member States. Participating radiotherapy centres must meet the following eligibility criteria:
* Treat at least 20 head and neck cancer patients each year.
* Have 3D radiotherapy with computed tomography (CT)-based planning.
* Possess a robust internet connection for online workshops, case uploads and downloads.
* Have at least 3 to 4 oncologists who routinely perform head-and-neck cancer target contouring and who can participate.
Research institutions interested in joining the CRP must submit their Proposal for Research Contract or Agreement via email, no later than 30 August 2025, to the IAEA’s Research Contracts Administration Section

Source: https://www.iaea.org/newscenter/news/how-can-artificial-intelligence-support-head-and-neck-cancer-treatment – New CRP on AI and Radiotherapy Contouring | IAEA