Applications of artificial intelligence in stereotactic body radiation therapy

Abstract

This topical review focuses on the applications of artificial intelligence (AI) tools to stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT). The high dose per fraction and the limited number of fractions in SBRT require stricter accuracy than standard radiation therapy. The intent of this review is to describe the development and evaluate the possible benefit of AI tools integration into the radiation oncology workflow for SBRT automation. The selected papers were subdivided into four sections, representative of the whole radiotherapy process: “AI in SBRT target and organs at risk contouring”, “AI in SBRT planning”, “AI during the SBRT delivery”, and “AI for outcome prediction after SBRT”. Each section summarises the challenges, as well as limits and needs for improvement to achieve better integration of AI tools in the clinical workflow.

Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy in Recurrent and Oligometastatic Head and Neck Tumours

“…Increasing interest in the applications of artificial intelligence (AI) holds tremendous potential to revolutionise SBRT planning and treatment workflows [ 93 , 94 ]. With the ability to process vast amounts of patient data and optimise treatment plans based on individual anatomical and tumour characteristics, AI-driven algorithms offer the promise of personalised and precise radiation therapy delivery.…”

Patient specific quality assurance in SBRT: a systematic review of measurement-based methods

“…The WG aims to achieve its goals through regular meetings, collaboration on research projects, and by providing educational opportunities for medical physicists aiming for the SBRT standardization (Mancosu et al 2021). Multicentre studies (Esposito et al 2019, Talamonti et al 2019, Pallotta et al 2022 and specific reviews (Giglioli et al 2017, Esposito et al 2020, Mancosu et al 2022 were conducted in the past few years. In the framework of this WG, the present study was dedicated to the PSQA for SBRT treatments.…”

A geometry and dose-volume based performance monitoring of artificial intelligence models in radiotherapy treatment planning for prostate cancer

“…Despite these benefits, the main challenges remain safe implementation, ongoing maintenance of an AI model and adaptation to changing workflows and procedures [20] . Stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) treatments, delivering high doses in a limited number of fractions, require even more stringent quality assurance (QA) measures [21] .…”