Artificial Intelligence in Colorectal Cancer Surgery: Present and Future Perspectives

Area of Science:

• Medical technology
• Surgical innovation
• Artificial intelligence in medicine

Background:

• Artificial intelligence (AI) and computer vision (CV) are increasingly impacting medical fields.
• While AI shows value in colorectal cancer (CRC) screening and staging, its surgical applications are nascent.
• This paper aims to bridge this gap by introducing AI/CV concepts to surgeons and reviewing current applications in CRC treatment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce fundamental AI and CV concepts relevant to surgical applications.
• To provide a comprehensive overview of the state-of-the-art AI applications in colorectal cancer (CRC) surgery.
• To highlight the potential of AI/CV in intraoperative guidance, decision-making, and surgical training for CRC.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing literature on AI and CV applications in colorectal cancer (CRC) surgery.
• Explanation of core AI and CV principles for a surgical audience.
• Illustration of fundamental steps in developing CV for surgical use.

Main Results:

• AI models demonstrate high accuracy in recognizing surgical phases and actions during complex procedures like transanal total mesorectal excision (TaTME).
• CV models can interpret fluorescent signals and identify correct dissection planes in total mesorectal excision (TME), aiding intraoperative guidance.
• AI shows potential for automated surgical skills assessment, enhancing training in the operating room.

Conclusions:

• AI and CV show significant promise for enhancing colorectal cancer (CRC) surgical treatment, from intraoperative guidance to skills assessment.
• Current applications are largely proofs of concept requiring further development and validation.
• Multi-institutional data and clinical studies are essential to confirm AI's value in improving CRC surgical outcomes.