Artificial Intelligence for Risk-Benefit Assessment in Hepatopancreatobiliary Oncologic Surgery: A Systematic Review of Current Applications and Future Directions on Behalf of TROGSS-The Robotic Global Surgical Society.

Background

Hepatopancreatobiliary (HPB) surgery is among the most complex domains in oncologic care, where decisions entail significant risk-benefit considerations. Artificial intelligence (AI) has emerged as a promising tool for improving individualized decision-making through enhanced risk stratification, complication prediction, and survival modeling. However, its role in HPB oncologic surgery has not been comprehensively assessed.

Methods

This systematic review was conducted in accordance with PRISMA guidelines and registered with PROSPERO ID: CRD420251114173. A comprehensive search across six databases was performed through 30 May 2025. Eligible studies evaluated AI applications in risk-benefit assessment in HPB cancer surgery. Inclusion criteria encompassed peer-reviewed, English-language studies involving human s ubjects. Two independent reviewers conducted study selection, data extraction, and quality appraisal.

Results

Thirteen studies published between 2020 and 2024 met the inclusion criteria. Most studies employed retrospective designs with sample sizes ranging from small institutional cohorts to large national databases. AI models were developed for cancer risk prediction (n = 9), postoperative complication modeling (n = 4), and survival prediction (n = 3). Common algorithms included Random Forest, XGBoost, Decision Trees, Artificial Neural Networks, and Transformer-based models. While internal performance metrics were generally favorable, external validation was reported in only five studies, and calibration metrics were often lacking. Integration into clinical workflows was described in just two studies. No study addressed cost-effectiveness or patient perspectives. Overall risk of bias was moderate to high, primarily due to retrospective designs and incomplete reporting.

Conclusions

AI demonstrates early promise in augmenting risk-benefit assessment for HPB oncologic surgery, particularly in predictive modeling. However, its clinical utility remains limited by methodological weaknesses and a lack of real-world integration. Future research should focus on prospective, multicenter validation, standardized reporting, clinical implementation, cost-effectiveness analysis, and the incorporation of patient-centered outcomes.