Presented by: Saakshi Bansal Dr
Lister Hospital, Stevenage, East and North Herts NHS Trust

Introduction

Artificial intelligence (AI) has become integral in daily life, yet there is vast room for application in surgery. Here, we review recent advances in the field of AI for diagnostics, management, prognostication and outcomes for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). We evaluate the strengths and limitations of recent studies with implications for future research.

Materials

The article selection strategy comprised of a systematic search on PubMed for applications of AI in BPH/BPE, yielding 35 results, with 8 papers being selected for review after processing through inclusion and exclusion criteria.

Results

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Studies have demonstrated the utility of AI in rapid segmentation of prostate MRIs, distinguishing BPH from prostate cancer through analysis of biopsies and serum components, and even presented the possibility of replacing invasive diagnostic techniques with non-invasive ones. Further outcomes included implementation of AI in the choice of management strategies and prognostication.

Conclusion

Current research presents promising potential applications of AI in BPH, especially in the field of image analysis and diagnostics. However, the majority of studies have so far been based on prostate cancer, with applications to BPH simply being an extrapolation/interpretation. Several other limitations of the research came to light, such as lack of standardisation of methodology and results reporting, small sample sizes, and use of cohorts without clear symptomatic/clinically relevant BPH/BPE. We advise that future research concentrate on applications of AI primarily in symptomatic BPH, employing diverse cohorts in sampling with various patient factors being taken into account in algorithms/processing, and standardisation of methodology and reporting principles.

Funding

None

Co-Authors

Yanjinlkham Chuluunbaatar, Dr
Lister Hospital, Stevenage, East and North Herts NHS Trust

Andrew Brodie,
Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire Urological Cancer Centre, Department of Urology, Lister Hospital, Stevenage, SG1 4AB, United Kingdom

Nikhil Vasdev,
Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire Urological Cancer Centre, Department of Urology, Lister Hospital, Stevenage, SG1 4AB, United Kingdom