The Role of Artificial Intelligence in Thoracic Surgery and Oncology: From Diagnosis and Risk Prediction to Robotic Surgery and Precision Care

Artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping thoracic surgery and thoracic oncology. It can support data-informed clinical decisions, improve diagnostic accuracy, refine surgical planning, and enable more personalized care. Advances in machine learning, deep learning, natural language processing, computer vision, and generative AI are creating opportunities across the thoracic care pathway—from diagnosis and risk assessment to treatment selection, intraoperative guidance, and postoperative follow-up.This Research Topic will examine current applications and future directions of AI in thoracic surgery. We welcome research on the development, validation, and clinical implementation of predictive models for perioperative risk stratification, including models that forecast prolonged air leak and other postoperative outcomes. We also encourage studies using clinical databases, electronic health records, and automated registry generation, including approaches that apply deep learning and natural language processing to improve data quality, standardization, and scalability.A key focus is AI in thoracic imaging, diagnostics, and surgical care. Suggested topics and themes include:• Thoracic imaging and radiomics: Deep learning, radiomics, and computer vision for lung nodule detection and characterization, disease staging, and treatment planning.• AI-supported decision-making in non-small cell lung cancer: Integration of clinical, radiological, pathological, and molecular data to support precision medicine.• AI-assisted diagnostic technologies: Bronchoscopy, robotic endoluminal navigation, digital pathology, biomarker quantification, and histopathological analysis.• Minimally invasive and robotic-assisted thoracic surgery: Intraoperative guidance, anatomical recognition, workflow optimization, and semi-autonomous surgical technologies.• Emerging AI approaches: Generative AI, foundation models, and patient-specific digital twins for simulation, treatment-response prediction, and personalized therapeutic strategies.We welcome original research, systematic reviews, meta-analyses, technical reports, clinical validation studies, perspectives, and translational investigations. Submissions addressing ethical, regulatory, legal, and implementation challenges are also encouraged, including work on explainability, external validation, privacy, bias mitigation, and safe clinical adoption.This Research Topic aims to foster multidisciplinary collaboration and advance the responsible integration of AI into thoracic surgery and thoracic oncology, with the goal of improving patient outcomes and healthcare delivery. Topic editors: Francesco Zaraca, Andrea Droghetti, Luca Bertolaccini Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/85833/the-role-of-artificial-intelligence-in-thoracic-surgery-and-oncology-from-diagnosis-and-risk-prediction-to-robotic-surgery-and-precision-care