The PRECISEnode project aims to develop AI-supported ultrasound diagnostics for more precise and less invasive surgical treatment of squamous cell carcinomas in the head and neck region. This type of cancer originates in the mucous membranes of the head and neck. It frequently affects the mouth, throat, and larynx and can also invade surrounding tissue. The focus is on patients whose cancer is suspected to have spread to the cervical lymph nodes. The methods currently used to diagnose and treat such metastases are prone to error and often yield unreliable results. As a consequence, affected patients have so far had their lymph nodes removed as a preventive measure, even though postoperative tissue examination reveals no metastases in up to 70 % of cases. This approach is very stressful for patients, as the procedures can be associated with pain, complications, and long-term functional limitations. Lymph nodes play a central role in the immune system, as they filter out pathogens and cancer cells and activate immune cells. Therefore, precise identification of affected lymph nodes is crucial to preserving lymph nodes that are free of metastases.

Against this backdrop, the project aims to use AI to optimize preoperative diagnosis and treatment. To this end, methods are being developed for the entire treatment process: from expanding diagnostic capabilities through novel high-resolution imaging, to improved, AI-supported lymph node staging, to interactive support during surgery. By combining high-resolution imaging with AI-based analysis, the detection of so-called occult metastases is expected to improve significantly. In this way, unnecessary surgeries can be avoided and the burden on patients can be reduced in the long term.

The main task of ITAS is to provide ethical and social science support for the development and use of AI-based systems for the diagnosis and treatment of head and neck tumors. To this end, the novel AI methods and human-machine interaction are continuously evaluated from ELSA and innovation perspectives. Together with the project partners, ITAS develops requirements for trustworthy AI and responsible system design in a medical context. Particular emphasis is placed on analyzing acceptance, trust, and potential challenges, such as overtrust or automation bias, in AI-supported medical decision making. Through appropriate participatory formats, the perspectives of all those involved are incorporated into the ethical reflection. The goal of this work is to establish a well-founded understanding of the requirements for trustworthy AI in cancer diagnostics and treatment and to support the responsible development, implementation, and further refinement of the system.

Further information on the project: https://www.interaktive-technologien.de/projekte/precisenode

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