Using AI to Detect a “Silent” Cancer: Advances in Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Care for Asian Health

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) disproportionately affects Asian populations and is often diagnosed at later stages because symptoms can be subtle and difficult to recognize. New advances in artificial intelligence and deep learning are creating opportunities to improve detection, diagnosis, and post-treatment monitoring for patients at higher risk.

In this Community Health Talk, Dr. Michael Chang, Assistant Professor of Otolaryngology–Head & Neck Surgery at Stanford Medicine, will discuss how AI-assisted analysis of endoscopic imaging may help clinicians identify suspicious lesions, improve biopsy targeting, and detect treatment-related complications and cancer recurrence with greater precision. Dr. Chang will also explore how these emerging technologies may support more personalized and equitable care for Asian and Asian American communities disproportionately affected by NPC.

Speaker:

Dr. Michael Chang is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Otolaryngology – Head & Neck Surgery at Stanford University School of Medicine. He graduated magna cum laude with honors in Neuroscience from Brown University and earned his medical degree from Yale University. He completed both his residency in Otolaryngology and his fellowship in Neuro-rhinology – Advanced Sinus & Skull Base Surgery at Stanford, where he was subsequently recruited to join the faculty.

Dr. Chang specializes in the treatment of nasal, sinus, and skull base disorders. He also leads a research lab focused on the application of artificial intelligence in surgery. His additional research interests include novel endoscopic imaging technologies, sinonasal cancer, and outcomes of surgical treatments for sinus and skull base disease. His work has received numerous research awards and has been published in high-impact journals. He regularly teaches on advancements in rhinology at national and international conferences.

Dr. Chang serves as Associate Program Director for Stanford’s Rhinology Fellowship, helping to train future rhinologic surgeons. He is a member of the American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, the North American Skull Base Society, and the American Rhinologic Society. He currently serves on the American Rhinology Society's Information Technology Committee.

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