Patient classification and attribute assessment based on machine learning techniques in the qualification process for surgical treatment of adrenal tumours

• Published in: Scientific reports Vol. 14; no. 1; p. 11209
• Main Authors: Wielogórska-Partyka, Marta, Adamski, Marcin, Siewko, Katarzyna, Popławska-Kita, Anna, Buczyńska, Angelika, Myśliwiec, Piotr, Krętowski, Adam Jacek, Adamska, Agnieszka
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group UK 16.05.2024; Nature Publishing Group; Nature Portfolio
• Subjects: 639/705; 692/163; Accuracy; Adrenal Gland Neoplasms - diagnostic imaging; Adrenal Gland Neoplasms - pathology; Adrenal Gland Neoplasms - surgery; Adrenal glands; Adrenalectomy; Adrenalectomy - methods; Adult; Aged; Algorithms; Classification; Computed tomography; Female; Humanities and Social Sciences; Humans; Learning algorithms; Machine Learning; Male; Middle Aged; multidisciplinary; Patients; Science; Science (multidisciplinary); Statistical analysis; Tomography, X-Ray Computed
• ISSN: 2045-2322; 2045-2322
• DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-61786-w

Adrenal gland incidentaloma is frequently identified through computed tomography and poses a common clinical challenge. Only selected cases require surgical intervention. The primary aim of this study was to compare the effectiveness of selected machine learning (ML) techniques in proper qualifying patients for adrenalectomy and to identify the most accurate algorithm, providing a valuable tool for doctors to simplify their therapeutic decisions. The secondary aim was to assess the significance of attributes for classification accuracy. In total, clinical data were collected from 33 patients who underwent adrenalectomy. Histopathological assessments confirmed the proper selection of 21 patients for surgical intervention according to the guidelines, with accuracy reaching 64%. Statistical analysis showed that Supported Vector Machines (linear) were significantly better than the baseline ( p  < 0.05), with accuracy reaching 91%, and imaging features of the tumour were found to be the most crucial attributes. In summarise, ML methods may be helpful in qualifying patients for adrenalectomy.