Challenges and benefits of using texture analysis of computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging scans in diagnosis of bladder cancer

Radiomics and texture analysis is a new step in the evaluation of digital medical images using specialized software and quantitative assessment of signs invisible to the eye. The textural parameters obtained through mathematical transformations correlate with morphological, molecular, and genotypic characteristics of the examined area. This article reviews scientific studies on challenges and benefits of using texture analysis in diagnosis of bladder cancer. The authors describe the practical value of this approach, and consider the challenges and potential of using it. Forty publications published between 2016 and 2024 were selected using keywords from PubMed and Google Scholar. Multiple studies demonstrate high accuracy of radiomics in local staging of bladder cancer, morphologic assessment of the tumor, and prediction of long term clinical outcomes. Therefore, texture analysis of medical images can provide additional information to diagnose bladder cancer in uncertain cases. Standardization of the method is currently one of the key issues to accelerate implementation of radiomics analysis in clinical practice.