HONG KONG — The Prince Philip Dental Hospital has launched what is believed to be the world’s first artificial intelligence-powered clinic dedicated to the early detection and prevention of oral cancer.
Developed in partnership with the University of Hong Kong’s Faculty of Dentistry, specifically its Division of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, the clinic integrates cutting-edge technology to enhance cancer risk assessment and diagnosis.
At the core of the new service is OralCancerPredict, an AI-powered web tool created by researchers at HKU. The tool uses a range of data—including patient demographics, comorbidities, clinical presentations, and histological features—to evaluate the likelihood that common precancerous oral lesions, such as oral leukoplakia and oral lichenoid conditions, will progress to cancer.
The decision-support system not only estimates risk but also provides a classification and rationale behind its assessment. According to the university, OralCancerPredict has demonstrated an average accuracy of 94% in identifying high-risk cases.
The AI model was initially developed in 2021 using patient data collected at Queen Mary Hospital between 2003 and 2022. It has since been validated using datasets from large patient cohorts in Nigeria and the United Kingdom, reinforcing its global applicability.
Rising Concerns Over Late Diagnosis
The launch of the clinic comes in response to alarming statistics on oral cancer outcomes. The University of Hong Kong cited international data showing that only 50% of oral cancer patients survive five years after diagnosis. In Hong Kong, the rate is slightly higher—around 60%—but experts say this is still largely due to diagnoses occurring too late.
“There is a pressing need for increased public awareness and stronger city-wide efforts in oral cancer prevention and early detection,” HKU stated.
Who the Clinic Serves
The new AI-assisted clinic is now accepting referred patients diagnosed with oral leukoplakia or oral lichenoid lesions. In addition to diagnostic services, the clinic provides treatment and ongoing follow-up care to monitor changes and manage patient outcomes over time.
The opening of the clinic marks a significant step forward in merging artificial intelligence with preventive healthcare, offering new hope in the fight against oral cancer.
