Researchers reviewed existing studies to see how well artificial intelligence (AI) can analyze medical scans of the upper airway. The AI's job was to automatically create a detailed 3D model from cone-beam CT or CT scans, a task usually done manually by a radiologist or technician. The review included 11 studies, with data from 6 of them combined for a closer look.
The analysis found that AI tools performed this task with high accuracy. Key measures of performance, like precision and similarity to human-drawn models, were all above 90%. The AI's measurements of total airway volume were also very close to manual measurements, with only a small, consistent difference.
It's important to understand that this research is a review of early, technical studies. The results are promising for the accuracy of the AI software itself, but they do not yet prove it improves patient care or is ready for doctors to rely on in everyday practice. The authors themselves state that many more studies are needed before any firm conclusions can be made about using this technology clinically.