Emerging Role of MRI-Based Artificial Intelligence in Individualized Treatment Strategies for Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Narrative Review.

Journal: Journal of magnetic resonance imaging : JMRI
Published Date:

Abstract

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common subtype of primary liver cancer, with significant variability in patient outcomes even within the same stage according to the Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer staging system. Accurately predicting patient prognosis and potential treatment response prior to therapy initiation is crucial for personalized clinical decision-making. This review focuses on the application of artificial intelligence (AI) in magnetic resonance imaging for guiding individualized treatment strategies in HCC management. Specifically, we emphasize AI-based tools for pre-treatment prediction of therapeutic response and prognosis. AI techniques such as radiomics and deep learning have shown strong potential in extracting high-dimensional imaging features to characterize tumors and liver parenchyma, predict treatment outcomes, and support prognostic stratification. These advances contribute to more individualized and precise treatment planning. However, challenges remain in model generalizability, interpretability, and clinical integration, highlighting the need for standardized imaging datasets and multi-omics fusion to fully realize the potential of AI in personalized HCC care. Evidence level: 5. Technical efficacy: 4.

Authors

  • Feng Che
    Department of Radiology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China.
  • Jing Zhu
    College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China.
  • Qian Li
    Emergency and Critical Care Center, Department of Emergency Medicine, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital, People's Hospital of Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
  • Hanyu Jiang
    Department of Radiology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
  • Yi Wei
    Department of Radiology, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan Province 610000, China.
  • Bin Song
    Department of Radiology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China.

Keywords

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