Advancing bone tumor detection in older adults: the impact of AI-enhanced medical imaging

Osteosarcoma presents unique challenges in diagnosis and management, particularly among older adults, who often experience distinct clinical presentations and treatment complications. As the global demographic of individuals aged 65 and older continues to expand, the need for effective strategies to address osteosarcoma in this group becomes increasingly urgent. Medical imaging plays a major role in the detection and monitoring of bone tumors, yet traditional imaging approaches face significant challenges when applied to older adults, including age-related physiological changes and comorbidities. Recent advancements in Artificial Intelligence provide transformative potential to enhance medical imaging for osteosarcoma detection in older adults. AI-driven technologies can improve image acquisition, reduce artifacts, and automate tumor detection and segmentation, thereby increasing diagnostic accuracy and optimizing treatment strategies. This mini-review explores the critical role of AI-enhanced medical imaging in overcoming the unique challenges of diagnosing osteosarcoma in older adults, emphasizing the need for tailored algorithms and protocols that consider the specific anatomical and physiological characteristics of this vulnerable population.