Cited by 69Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare and EducationAdvanced Radiotherapy TechniquesAdvances in Oncology and Radiotherapy

Artificial Intelligence for Radiotherapy Auto-Contouring: Current Use, Perceptions of and Barriers to Implementation

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Hindocha, S., Zucker, K., Jena, R., Banfill, K., Mackay, K., Price, G., Pudney, D., Wang, J. +1 more·2023·Clinical Oncology

Abstract

AIMS: Artificial intelligence has the potential to transform the radiotherapy workflow, resulting in improved quality, safety, accuracy and timeliness of radiotherapy delivery. Several commercially available artificial intelligence-based auto-contouring tools have emerged in recent years. Their clinical deployment raises important considerations for clinical oncologists, including quality assurance and validation, education, training and job planning. Despite this, there is little in the literature capturing the views of clinical oncologists with respect to these factors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The Royal College of Radiologists realises the transformational impact artificial intelligence is set to have on our specialty and has appointed the Artificial Intelligence for Clinical Oncology working group. The aim of this work was to survey clinical oncologists with regards to perceptions, current use of and barriers to using artificial intelligence-based auto-contouring for radiotherapy. Here we share our findings with the wider clinical and radiation oncology communities. We hope to use these insights in developing support, guidance and educational resources for the deployment of auto-contouring for clinical use, to help develop the case for wider access to artificial intelligence-based auto-contouring across the UK and to share practice from early-adopters. RESULTS: In total, 78% of clinical oncologists surveyed felt that artificial intelligence would have a positive impact on radiotherapy. Attitudes to risk were more varied, but 49% felt that artificial intelligence will decrease risk for patients. There is a marked appetite for urgent guidance, education and training on the safe use of such tools in clinical practice. Furthermore, there is a concern that the adoption and implementation of such tools is not equitable, which risks exacerbating existing inequalities across the country. CONCLUSION: Careful coordination is required to ensure that all radiotherapy departments, and the patients they serve, may enjoy the benefits of artificial intelligence in radiotherapy. Professional organisations, such as the Royal College of Radiologists, have a key role to play in delivering this.

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Crossref · 10.1016/j.clon.2023.01.014

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Authors
Hindocha, S., Zucker, K., Jena, R., Banfill, K., Mackay, K., Price, G., Pudney, D., Wang, J., & Taylor, A.
Affiliations
  • Imperial College London (GB)
  • University of Leeds (GB)
  • University of Cambridge (GB)
  • The Christie Hospital (GB)
  • Royal Marsden Hospital (GB)
  • Swansea Bay University Health Board (GB)
Corresponding author
Hindocha, S.
Venue
Clinical Oncology
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2023-04
Volume
35
Issue
4
Pages
219-226
ISSN
0936-6555 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W4317802035
Cited by
69
References
18
Citations by year
2026: 15 · 2025: 29 · 2024: 18 · 2023: 7
FWCI
2.79
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Clinical Oncology (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
  • Cancer Research UK (S_3800)
  • National Institute for Health and Care Research (CL-2020-02-004)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Health Informatics › Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare and Education
  • Physical Sciences › Physics and Astronomy › Radiation › Advanced Radiotherapy Techniques
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Imaging › Advances in Oncology and Radiotherapy
Keywords
artificial intelligence, implementation barriers, work planning, Royal College of Radiologists
MeSH terms
Artificial Intelligence, Humans, Medical Oncology, Surveys and Questionnaires, Radiotherapy Planning, Computer-Assisted, Radiation Oncology

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