Radiomics in Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery: A Review.

Area of Science:

• Radiomics leverages quantifiable imaging biomarkers to correlate with histopathology and clinical outcomes.
• This field offers significant potential within otolaryngology due to complex anatomy and diverse pathologies.

Background:

• Radiomics applications in otolaryngology primarily focus on neoplasms of the upper airway, larynx, sinonasal passages, and skull base.
• Current applications include diagnostic classifiers for occult features, prognosticators for recurrence and survival, and predictors of treatment response.

Purpose of the Study:

• To establish methodological frameworks for radiomics in otolaryngology.
• To identify common limitations hindering clinical translation.
• To evaluate the current landscape and future potential of radiomics in the field.

Main Methods:

• This review synthesized existing literature on radiomics applications in otolaryngology.
• Methodological frameworks, limitations, and current advancements were analyzed.
• The review focused on diagnostic, prognostic, and treatment prediction applications.

Main Results:

• Radiomics can classify occult pathologic features and predict recurrence/survival, with hybrid models outperforming single-modality approaches.
• Techniques like dosiomics and δ-radiomics show potential in predicting treatment response and toxicity.
• Despite advances, challenges like variable protocols, manual segmentation, small cohorts, and lack of validation impede clinical use.

Conclusions:

• Radiomics, integrated with clinical and pathologic data, can enhance otolaryngology diagnosis, prognostication, and treatment personalization.
• Standardization of imaging protocols, multi-institutional validation, and clinical workflow integration are crucial for adoption.
• Refined radiomics applications can streamline workflows and guide treatment planning.