Artificial Intelligence and liver: Opportunities and barriers.

Journal: Digestive and liver disease : official journal of the Italian Society of Gastroenterology and the Italian Association for the Study of the Liver
Published Date:

Abstract

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has recently been shown as an excellent tool for the study of the liver; however, many obstacles still have to be overcome for the digitalization of real-world hepatology. The authors present an overview of the current state of the art on the use of innovative technologies in different areas (big data, translational hepatology, imaging, and transplant setting). In clinical practice, physicians must integrate a vast array of data modalities (medical history, clinical data, laboratory tests, imaging, and pathology slides) to achieve a diagnostic or therapeutic decision. Unfortunately, machine learning and deep learning are still far from really supporting clinicians in real life. In fact, the accuracy of any technological support has no value in medicine without the support of clinicians. To make better use of new technologies, it is essential to improve clinicians' knowledge about them. To this end, the authors propose that collaborative networks for multidisciplinary approaches will improve the rapid implementation of AI systems for developing disease-customized AI-powered clinical decision support tools. The authors also discuss ethical, educational, and legal challenges that must be overcome to build robust bridges and deploy potentially effective AI in real-world clinical settings.

Authors

  • Clara Balsano
    Dept. of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences MESVA, University of L'Aquila, Piazza S. Salvatore Tommasi 1, 67100, Coppito, L'Aquila. Italy; Francesco Balsano Foundation, Via Giovanni Battista Martini 6, 00198, Rome, Italy. Electronic address: clara.balsano@univaq.it.
  • Patrizia Burra
    Multivisceral Transplant Unit, Department of Surgery, Oncology, Gastroenterology, Padua University Hospital, Padua, Italy.
  • Christophe Duvoux
    Department of Hepatology, Medical Liver Transplant Unit, Hospital Henri Mondor AP-HP, University of Paris-Est Créteil (UPEC), France.
  • Anna Alisi
    Research Unit of Molecular Genetics of Complex Phenotypes, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy.
  • Fabio Piscaglia
  • Alessio Gerussi
    Division of Gastroenterology, Center for Autoimmune Liver Diseases, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy; European Reference Network on Hepatological Diseases (ERN RARE-LIVER), Fondazione IRCCS San Gerardo dei Tintori, Monza, Italy.