Artificial intelligence techniques in liver cancer

Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC), the most common primary liver cancer, is a significant contributor to worldwide cancer-related deaths. Various medical imaging techniques, including computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and ultrasound, play a crucial role in accurately evaluating HCC and formulating effective treatment plans. Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies have demonstrated potential in supporting physicians by providing more accurate and consistent medical diagnoses. Recent advancements have led to the development of AI-based multi-modal prediction systems. These systems integrate medical imaging with other modalities, such as electronic health record reports and clinical parameters, to enhance the accuracy of predicting biological characteristics and prognosis, including those associated with HCC. These multi-modal prediction systems pave the way for predicting the response to transarterial chemoembolization and microvascular invasion treatments and can assist clinicians in identifying the optimal patients with HCC who could benefit from interventional therapy. This paper provides an overview of the latest AI-based medical imaging models developed for diagnosing and predicting HCC. It also explores the challenges and potential future directions related to the clinical application of AI techniques.