Published online Feb 24, 2022. doi: 10.5306/wjco.v13.i2.125
Peer-review started: November 9, 2021
First decision: December 27, 2021
Revised: January 9, 2022
Accepted: January 25, 2022
Article in press: January 25, 2022
Published online: February 24, 2022
Processing time: 106 Days and 8.6 Hours
Artificial intelligence (AI) is the timeliest field of computer science and attempts to mimic cognitive function of humans to solve problems. In the era of “Big data”, there is an ever-increasing need for AI in all aspects of medicine. Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is the second most common primary malignancy of liver that has shown an increase in incidence in the last years. CCA has high mortality as it is diagnosed in later stages that decreases effect of surgery, chemotherapy, and other modalities. With technological advancement there is an immense amount of clinicopathologic, genetic, serologic, histologic, and radiologic data that can be assimilated together by modern AI tools for diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of CCA. The literature shows that in almost all cases AI models have the capacity to increase accuracy in diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of CCA. Most studies however are retrospective, and one study failed to show AI benefit in practice. There is immense potential for AI in diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of CCA however limitations such as relative lack of studies in use by human operators in improvement of survival remains to be seen.
Core Tip: The wide array of modalities available to treat cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) in addition to the diversity of the tumor urges us to use individualized therapy. To establish the proper approach to diagnose, treat, and prognose CCA, analysis of available data is the key to achieve the individualized care. Artificial intelligence can be a potential modality for achieving this goal.