Using artificial intelligence for bladder cancer detection during cystoscopy and its impact on clinical outcomes: a protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract

Introduction Cystoscopy has revolutionised the process of diagnosing bladder cancer leading to better categorisation of risk levels and more precise treatment plans. Nonetheless, concerns arise about the lack of uniformity among observers in predicting tumour stage and grade. To address these concerns, artificial intelligence (AI) is being incorporated into clinical settings to aid in the analysis of diagnostic and therapeutic images. The subsequent report outlines a systematic review and meta-analysis protocol aimed at evaluating the effectiveness of AI in predicting bladder cancer based on cystoscopic images.Methods and analysis Our systematic search will use databases including PubMed, MEDLINE, Embase and Cochrane. The articles published between May 2015 and April 2024 will be eligible for inclusion. For articles to be considered, they must employ AI for analysis of cystoscopic images to identify bladder cancer, present original data and be written in English. The protocol adheres to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Protocol 2015 checklist. Quality and bias risk across chosen studies will be evaluated using the Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies-2 score.Ethics and dissemination Ethical clearance will not be necessary for conducting this systematic review since results will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publications and presentations at both national and international conferences.PROSPERO registration number CRD42024528345.