Artificial Intelligence-driven Digital Cytology-based Cervical Cancer Screening: Is the Time Ripe to Adopt This Disruptive Technology in Resource-constrained Settings? A Literature Review.

Cervical cancer is still a public health scourge in the developing countries due to the lack of organized screening programs. Though liquid-based cytology methods improved the performance of cervical cytology, the interpretation still suffers from subjectivity. Artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms have offered objectivity leading to better sensitivity and specificity of cervical cancer screening. Whole slide imaging (WSI) that converts a glass slide to a virtual slide provides a new perspective to the application of AI, especially for cervical cytology. In the recent years, there have been a few studies employing various AI algorithms on WSI images of conventional or LBC smears and demonstrating differing sensitivity/specificity or accuracy at detection of abnormalities in cervical smears. Considering the interest in AI-based screening modalities, this well-timed review intends to summarize the progress in this field while highlighting the research gaps and providing future research directions.