Osteoporosis, marked by low bone mineral density (BMD) and a high fracture risk, is a major health issue. Recent progress in medical imaging, especially CT scans, offers new ways of diagnosing and assessing osteoporosis. This review examines the use of AI analysis of CT scans to stratify BMD and diagnose osteoporosis. By summarizing the relevant studies, we aimed to assess the effectiveness, constraints, and potential impact of AI-based osteoporosis classification (severity) via CT. A systematic search of electronic databases (PubMed, MEDLINE, Web of Science, ClinicalTrials.gov) was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. A total of 39 articles were retrieved from the databases, and the key findings were compiled and summarized, including the regions analyzed, the type of CT imaging, and their efficacy in predicting BMD compared with conventional DXA studies. Important considerations and limitations are also discussed. The overall reported accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity of AI in classifying osteoporosis using CT images ranged from 61.8% to 99.4%, 41.0% to 100.0%, and 31.0% to 100.0% respectively, with areas under the curve (AUCs) ranging from 0.582 to 0.994. While additional research is necessary to validate the clinical efficacy and reproducibility of these AI tools before incorporating them into routine clinical practice, these studies demonstrate the promising potential of using CT to opportunistically predict and classify osteoporosis without the need for DEXA.

Spinal metastasis is the most common malignant disease of the spine. Recently, major advances in machine learning and artificial intelligence technology have led to their increased use in oncological imaging. The purpose of this study is to review and summarise the present evidence for artificial intelligence applications in the detection, classification and management of spinal metastasis, along with their potential integration into clinical practice. A systematic, detailed search of the main electronic medical databases was undertaken in concordance with the PRISMA guidelines. A total of 30 articles were retrieved from the database and reviewed. Key findings of current AI applications were compiled and summarised. The main clinical applications of AI techniques include image processing, diagnosis, decision support, treatment assistance and prognostic outcomes. In the realm of spinal oncology, artificial intelligence technologies have achieved relatively good performance and hold immense potential to aid clinicians, including enhancing work efficiency and reducing adverse events. Further research is required to validate the clinical performance of the AI tools and facilitate their integration into routine clinical practice.

An accurate diagnosis of bone tumours on imaging is crucial for appropriate and successful treatment. The advent of Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning methods to characterize and assess bone tumours on various imaging modalities may assist in the diagnostic workflow. The purpose of this review article is to summarise the most recent evidence for AI techniques using imaging for differentiating benign from malignant lesions, the characterization of various malignant bone lesions, and their potential clinical application. A systematic search through electronic databases (PubMed, MEDLINE, Web of Science, and clinicaltrials.gov) was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. A total of 34 articles were retrieved from the databases and the key findings were compiled and summarised. A total of 34 articles reported the use of AI techniques to distinguish between benign vs. malignant bone lesions, of which 12 (35.3%) focused on radiographs, 12 (35.3%) on MRI, 5 (14.7%) on CT and 5 (14.7%) on PET/CT. The overall reported accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity of AI in distinguishing between benign vs. malignant bone lesions ranges from 0.44–0.99, 0.63–1.00, and 0.73–0.96, respectively, with AUCs of 0.73–0.96. In conclusion, the use of AI to discriminate bone lesions on imaging has achieved a relatively good performance in various imaging modalities, with high sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy for distinguishing between benign vs. malignant lesions in several cohort studies. However, further research is necessary to test the clinical performance of these algorithms before they can be facilitated and integrated into routine clinical practice.

Metastatic Spinal Cord Compression (MSCC) is a debilitating complication in oncology patients. This narrative review discusses the strengths and limitations of various imaging modalities in diagnosing MSCC, the role of imaging in stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) for MSCC treatment, and recent advances in deep learning (DL) tools for MSCC diagnosis. PubMed and Google Scholar databases were searched using targeted keywords. Studies were reviewed in consensus among the co-authors for their suitability before inclusion. MRI is the gold standard of imaging to diagnose MSCC with reported sensitivity and specificity of 93% and 97% respectively. CT Myelogram appears to have comparable sensitivity and specificity to contrast-enhanced MRI. Conventional CT has a lower diagnostic accuracy than MRI in MSCC diagnosis, but is helpful in emergent situations with limited access to MRI. Metal artifact reduction techniques for MRI and CT are continually being researched for patients with spinal implants. Imaging is crucial for SBRT treatment planning and three-dimensional positional verification of the treatment isocentre prior to SBRT delivery. Structural and functional MRI may be helpful in post-treatment surveillance. DL tools may improve detection of vertebral metastasis and reduce time to MSCC diagnosis. This enables earlier institution of definitive therapy for better outcomes.

Osteoporosis is a complex endocrine disease characterized by a decline in bone mass and microstructural integrity. It constitutes a major global health problem. Recent progress in the field of artificial intelligence (AI) has opened new avenues for the effective diagnosis of osteoporosis via radiographs. This review investigates the application of AI classification of osteoporosis in radiographs. A comprehensive exploration of electronic repositories (ClinicalTrials.gov, Web of Science, PubMed, MEDLINE) was carried out in adherence to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses 2020 statement (PRISMA). A collection of 31 articles was extracted from these repositories and their significant outcomes were consolidated and outlined. This encompassed insights into anatomical regions, the specific machine learning methods employed, the effectiveness in predicting BMD, and categorizing osteoporosis. Through analyzing the respective studies, we evaluated the effectiveness and limitations of AI osteoporosis classification in radiographs. The pooled reported accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity of osteoporosis classification ranges from 66.1% to 97.9%, 67.4% to 100.0%, and 60.0% to 97.5% respectively. This review underscores the potential of AI osteoporosis classification and offers valuable insights for future research endeavors, which should focus on addressing the challenges in technical and clinical integration to facilitate practical implementation of this technology.

Artificial intelligence (AI) shows promise in streamlining MRI workflows by reducing radiologists’ workload and improving diagnostic accuracy. Despite MRI’s extensive clinical use, systematic evaluation of AI-driven productivity gains in MRI remains limited. This review addresses that gap by synthesizing evidence on how AI can shorten scanning and reading times, optimize worklist triage, and automate segmentation. On 15 November 2024, we searched PubMed, EMBASE, MEDLINE, Web of Science, Google Scholar, and Cochrane Library for English-language studies published between 2000 and 15 November 2024, focusing on AI applications in MRI. Additional searches of grey literature were conducted. After screening for relevance and full-text review, 66 studies met inclusion criteria. Extracted data included study design, AI techniques, and productivity-related outcomes such as time savings and diagnostic accuracy. The included studies were categorized into five themes: reducing scan times, automating segmentation, optimizing workflow, decreasing reading times, and general time-saving or workload reduction. Convolutional neural networks (CNNs), especially architectures like ResNet and U-Net, were commonly used for tasks ranging from segmentation to automated reporting. A few studies also explored machine learning-based automation software and, more recently, large language models. Although most demonstrated gains in efficiency and accuracy, limited external validation and dataset heterogeneity could reduce broader adoption. AI applications in MRI offer potential to enhance radiologist productivity, mainly through accelerated scans, automated segmentation, and streamlined workflows. Further research, including prospective validation and standardized metrics, is needed to enable safe, efficient, and equitable deployment of AI tools in clinical MRI practice.