The current state of demographic subgroup reporting for commercially available AI for radiology: a scoping review
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By
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Shannon L. Walston
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Hirotaka Takita
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Yasuhito Mitsuyama
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Junya Sato
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Daiju Ueda
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June 12, 2026
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Clinical Scorecard: An Overview of Demographic Subgroup Reporting in Commercial Radiology AI: A Scoping Review
At a Glance
| Category | Detail |
| Condition | Algorithmic bias in medical AI and its broader implications |
| Key Mechanisms | Demographic subgroup performance discrepancies and their impact on patient care |
| Target Population | Patients distinguished by demographics, socioeconomic factors, or geographic factors |
| Care Setting | Radiology |
Key Highlights
- Algorithmic bias in AI poses risks to patient subgroups
- Limited evidence exists on subgroup bias in commercial medical AI, impacting patient safety
- Current regulations do not mandate peer-reviewed evidence for AI approval, raising concerns
- Best practices for estimating algorithmic bias remain unclear; specific strategies needed
- Regulatory groups are preparing solutions for identifying algorithmic bias, but challenges persist
Guideline-Based Recommendations
Diagnosis
- Identify studies validating commercially available AI-based products
- Assess reporting of age, sex, and race/ethnicity demographics with specific metrics
Management
- Provide practical recommendations to improve demographic reporting, including examples
Monitoring & Follow-up
- Monitor performance discrepancies between patient demographics and report findings
Risks
- Potential harmful biases in AI products due to lack of data and regulations; emphasize need for oversight
Patient & Prescribing Data
Patients in external cohorts differing demographically from testing cohorts
AI may use demographic subgroups as shortcuts instead of performing intended tasks; examples needed
Clinical Best Practices
- Follow PRISMA-ScR guidelines for scoping reviews
- Utilize publicly available information for data collection
- Ensure comprehensive reporting of demographic ratios in studies; provide specific examples
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