Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40299277›Full record

ReviewAdvances in therapy2025

The Limitations of Artificial Intelligence in Head and Neck Oncology.

Karthik N Rao, Veronica Fernandez-Alvarez, Orlando Guntinas-Lichius, M P Sreeram, Remco de Bree, Luiz P Kowalski, Arlene Forastiere, Pia Pace-Asciak, Juan P Rodrigo, Nabil F Saba and 7 more

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Advances in therapy, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 20 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
20citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

20 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Machine learning based prediction of recurrence in oral tongue cancer: a systematic review with quantitative synthesis.European archives of oto-rhino-laryngology : official journal of the European Federation of Oto-Rhino-Laryngological Societies (EUFOS) : affiliated with the German Society for Oto-Rhino-Laryngology - Head and Neck Surgery · 2026
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  11. AI and human expertise in cancer care - striving for synergy.Nature reviews. Clinical oncology · 2026
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

17 authors.

Karthik N RaoDepartment of Head and Neck Oncology, Sri Shankara Cancer Foundation, Bangalore, India. karthik.nag.rao@gmail.com.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1420-7366
Veronica Fernandez-AlvarezDepartment of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, Hospital Universitario Central de Asturias, Oviedo, Spain.
Orlando Guntinas-LichiusDepartment of Otorhinolaryngology, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany.
M P SreeramDepartment of Head and Neck Oncology, Sri Shankara Cancer Foundation, Bangalore, India.
Remco de BreeDepartment of Head and Neck Surgical Oncology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Luiz P KowalskiHead and Neck Surgery and Otorhinolaryngology Department, A C Camargo Cancer Center, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
Arlene ForastiereThe Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins, Baltimore, USA.
Pia Pace-AsciakDepartment of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
Juan P RodrigoInstituto Universitario de Oncología del Principado de Asturias, University of Oviedo, Oviedo, Spain.
Nabil F SabaDepartment of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Winship Cancer Institute, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia.
Ohad RonenDepartment of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Galilee Medical Center, Affiliated with Azrieli Faculty of Medicine, Bar-Ilan University, Safed, Israel.
Ewa FlorekLaboratory of Environmental Research, Department of Toxicology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 60-806, Poznan, Poland.
Gregory W RandolphMassachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
Alvaro SanabriaDepartment of Surgery, School of Medicine, Universidad de Antioquia/Hospital Universitario San Vicente Fundación-CEXCA Centro de Excelencia en Enfermedades de Cabeza y Cuello, Medellín, Colombia.
Jan B VermorkenDepartment of Medical Oncology, Antwerp University Hospital, Edegem, Belgium.
Ehab Y HannaDepartment of Head and Neck Surgery, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA.
Alfio FerlitoCoordinator of the International Head and Neck Scientific Group, 35100, Padua, Italy.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Artificial intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing head and neck oncology, offering innovations in tumor detection, treatment planning, and patient management. However, its integration into clinical practice is hindered by several limitations. These include clinician mistrust due to a lack of understanding of AI mechanisms, biases in algorithm development, and the potential over-reliance on technology, which may undermine clinical expertise. Data-related challenges, such as inconsistent quality and limited representativeness of datasets, further complicate AI's application. Ethical, legal, and privacy concerns also pose significant barriers. Addressing these issues through transparent AI systems, clinician education, and clear regulations is essential for ensuring responsible, equitable use in head and neck oncology. This manuscript explores the limitations of AI in head and neck oncology.

Indexed as

Artificial IntelligenceHead and Neck NeoplasmsMedical OncologyAlgorithmsHumansAlgorithm biasArtificial intelligenceClinical decision support systemsHead and neck neoplasmsLimitations

Identifiers

PMID40299277
PMCPMC12085315

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.