AI as a surgical Co-Pilot: predicting difficulty in rectal cancer
NCT ID NCT07761169
First seen Aug 12, 2026 · Last updated Aug 13, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This trial tests whether an AI tool called SurgDiff can predict how difficult rectal cancer surgery will be, based on MRI scans and patient data. The goal is to help surgeons choose the best surgical approach for each patient, potentially reducing complications. The study involves 68 adults with mid-low rectal cancer who are scheduled for surgery. Researchers will compare outcomes between patients whose surgical plan is guided by the AI and those who receive standard care.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- AI-assisted decision-making using the SurgDiff model, which predicts surgical difficulty from MRI scans and clinical data
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this could help surgeons choose the best surgical approach for rectal cancer, potentially reducing complications and improving outcomes.
- What could go wrong
- The trial is small (68 participants) and early, so the AI's predictions may not always be accurate or generalizable to all patients. There is also a risk that the model could misjudge difficulty, leading to suboptimal surgical choices.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
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