A deep learning algorithm to detect cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma on frozen sections in Mohs micrographic surgery: a retrospective assessment
Authors: Davis Matthew J. , Srinivasan Gokul , Chacko Rachael , Chen Sophie , Suvarna Anish , Vaickus Louis J. , Torres Veronica C. , Hodge Sassan , Chen Eunice Y. , Preum Sarah , Samkoe Kimberley S. , Christensen Brock C. , LeBoeuf Matthew , Levy Joshua J. 
Published: May 2023

Importance

Intraoperative margin analysis is crucial for the successful removal of cutaneous squamous cell carcinomas (cSCC). Artificial intelligence technologies (AI) have previously demonstrated potential for facilitating rapid and complete tumor removal using intraoperative margin assessment for basal cell carcinoma. However, the varied morphologies of cSCC present challenges for AI margin assessment.

Objective

To develop and evaluate the accuracy of an AI algorithm for real-time histologic margin analysis of cSCC.

Design

A retrospective cohort study was conducted using frozen cSCC section slides and adjacent tissues.

Setting

This study was conducted in a tertiary care academic center.

Participants

Patients undergoing Mohs micrographic surgery for cSCC between January and March 2020.

Exposures

Frozen section slides were scanned and annotated, delineating benign tissue structures, inflammation, and tumor to develop an AI algorithm for real-time margin analysis. Patients were stratified by tumor differentiation status. Epithelial tissues including epidermis and hair follicles were annotated for moderate-well to well differentiated cSCC tumors. A convolutional neural network workflow was used to extract histomorphological features predictive of cSCC at 50-micron resolution.

Main Outcomes and Measures

The performance of the AI algorithm in identifying cSCC at 50-micron resolution was reported using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve. Accuracy was also reported by tumor differentiation status and by delineation of cSCC from epidermis. Model performance using histomorphological features alone was compared to architectural features (i.e., tissue context) for well-differentiated tumors.

Results

The AI algorithm demonstrated proof of concept for identifying cSCC with high accuracy. Accuracy differed by differentiation status, driven by challenges in separating cSCC from epidermis using histomorphological features alone for well-differentiated tumors. Consideration of broader tissue context through architectural features improved the ability to delineate tumor from epidermis.

Conclusions and Relevance

Incorporating AI into the surgical workflow may improve efficiency and completeness of real-time margin assessment for cSCC removal, particularly in cases of moderately and poorly differentiated tumors/neoplasms. Further algorithmic improvement is necessary to remain sensitive to the unique epidermal landscape of well-differentiated tumors, and to map tumors to their original anatomical position/orientation. Future studies should assess the efficiency improvements and cost benefits and address other confounding pathologies such as inflammation and nuclei.

Funding sources

JL is supported by NIH grants R24GM141194, P20GM104416 and P20GM130454. Support for this work was also provided by the Prouty Dartmouth Cancer Center development funds.

Key Points

Question

How can the efficiency and accuracy of real-time intraoperative margin analysis for the removal of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) be improved, and how can tumor differentiation be incorporated into this approach?

Findings

A proof-of-concept deep learning algorithm was trained, validated, and tested on frozen section whole slide images (WSI) for a retrospective cohort of cSCC cases, demonstrating high accuracy in identifying cSCC and related pathologies. Histomorphology alone was found to be insufficient to delineate tumor from epidermis in histologic identification of well-differentiated cSCC. Incorporation of surrounding tissue architecture and shape improved the ability to delineate tumor from normal tissue.

Meaning

Integrating artificial intelligence into surgical procedures has the potential to enhance the thoroughness and efficiency of intraoperative margin analysis for cSCC removal. However, accurately accounting for the epidermal tissue based on the tumor’s differentiation status requires specialized algorithms that consider the surrounding tissue context. To meaningfully integrate AI algorithms into clinical practice, further algorithmic refinement is needed, as well as the mapping of tumors to their original surgical site, and evaluation of the cost and efficacy of these approaches to address existing bottlenecks.