Role of Artificial Intelligence in Thyroid Cancer Diagnosis

The progress of artificial intelligence (AI), particularly its core algorithms—machine learning (ML) and deep learning (DL)—has been significant in the medical field, impacting both scientific research and clinical practice. These algorithms are now capable of analyzing ultrasound images, processing them, and providing outcomes, such as determining the benignity or malignancy of thyroid nodules. This integration into ultrasound machines is referred to as computer-aided diagnosis (CAD). The use of such software extends beyond ultrasound to include cytopathological and molecular assessments, enhancing the estimation of malignancy risk. AI’s considerable potential in cancer diagnosis and prevention is evident. This article provides an overview of AI models based on ML and DL algorithms used in thyroid diagnostics. Recent studies demonstrate their effectiveness and diagnostic role in ultrasound, pathology, and molecular fields. Notable advancements include content-based image retrieval (CBIR), enhanced saliency CBIR (SE-CBIR), Restore-Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs), and Vision Transformers (ViTs). These new algorithms show remarkable results, indicating their potential as diagnostic and prognostic tools for thyroid pathology. The future trend points to these AI systems becoming the preferred choice for thyroid diagnostics.