DL-based dose prediction using the AIVOT prototype software in HNC patients yielded promising results. While additional contours may enhance prediction accuracy, their impact on dose mimicking is relatively small.
Further studies should aim to collect larger samples of malignant and pre-malignant patients to improve the class imbalance and increase the performance of the machine learning models.
The combined model based on CECT demonstrates the potential to predict LNM in OPSCCs preoperatively, offering a valuable tool for more precise and tailored treatment strategies.