Dr. Answer AI for Prostate Cancer

• 13 Aug 2020 09:19:37 AM
• |Young Urologists Forum

Dear All,

It is necessary that we begin to understand more regarding AI and its related aspects which are evolving at considerable pace in recent years and could reach an extent that they could be indispensible. This is for sure going to happen with almost all diseases but as Urologists, AI and related have already made considerable inroads into PCa and to a lesser extent into B Ca. It is said that these applications have become essential as manpower depletion is occurring in Medicine. There is a lament that with introduction of AI, the need for well trained and experienced Pathologists may no longer be needed as AI and its associated aspects will nullify the need.

Here in I am providing an article on development of Software (developed by S. Koreans) for predicting the Clinical Outcomes of RP preoperatively with high level of accuracy. This will enable the Clinician to explain the outcome with more efficiency as well as it enables the patient to understand batter. This Software has been called as ‘Dr. Answer AI for Prostate Cancer’.

https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0236553&type=printable

I am providing the link (enlarged version) for ‘Main Service Screen’ and ‘Prediction Outcome Screen’

https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/figure?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0236553.g002

https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/figure?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0236553.g003

How far can applications of such software possible in a country like India. The younger generation, more knowledgeable with technology, could understand and use them with ease for the benefit of patients but everything depends on proper documentation of various aspects that are needed as inputs. If Documentation is not perfect (as is usual in our Country) it will be like ‘garbage in and garbage out’. This is likely to improve in near future and then possibly such software’s will come into prominence.

At present this software is addressing only those who are being advised RP and in time such software’s will become available for decision making of other options for treatments as well.

I am sure that the Young Urologists of India will rise up and explain how much of these advances will become routine in our day to day practice. I am sure we will have a healthy discussion on this.

With warm regards,

Venu

Comments(1)

• 

  abhijit patil

  14 Aug 2020 06:30:16 AM

  Sir,

  Artificial intelligence: Learning from existing data without making predictions based on statistically analysis and making predictions regarding new data, which can help in decision making.

  Machine learning:  refers to inferring the data based on statistical analysis and various algorithms

  The examples of day today machine learning or artificial intelligence: Google Assistant, suggesting new friends in Facebook, suggesting personalise song playlist, automated Driving and predictive text.

  It has many applications in urology like

  Prostate cancer diagnosis based on MRI(PIRADS), predicting Gleason score on Histopathology, biochemical recurrence after surgery, patient stage and survival.

  Bladder cancer diagnosis and 5 year survival

  The basic method of doing it is collecting large amount of data, feeding it to the computer, using various algorithms available and then predict outcome.

  Most common Algorithms that I used our random forest algorithm, which is average of various decision trees. It is one of the most robust algorithms.

  The next simple algorithm is K nearest neighbours(KNN).

   In simple words, it is interpretation of large amount of available data and predict the outcome in a new set of data.

  It can be very useful for decision making in gray zones in Urology, like decision making in neurogenic bladder, pediatric urology.

  It can also be useful in predicting graft survival in kidney transplant

  Medical versus surgical management in BPH

  There’s very much need of aggregating data from Premier Indian institutes and applying artificial intelligence to form good algorithms

  There are many good IT companies in India that can help in preparing algorithms

  I think this is the future and it is here to stay.

  This will surely minimise human error, though may not completely replace human decisions.

  Thanking,

  Abhijit Patil

  MPUH, Nadiad.