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This is an early access version, the complete PDF, HTML, and XML versions will be available soon.
Article

Exploring the Balance Between Artificial Intelligence and Human Expertise in Shaping Breast Reconstruction Outcomes: A Comparative Reflection Study

by
Ioan Constantin Pop
1,2,
Maximilian Vlad Muntean
2,3,*,
Vlad Alexandru Gata
4,5,*,
Radu Alexandru Ilies
1,
Delia Nicoara
1,6,
Claudiu Ioan Filip
7,8,
Vasile Pop
9 and
Patriciu Andrei Achimas-Cadariu
4,5
1
Faculty of Medicine, “Iuliu Hațieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 400012 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
2
Department of Plastic Surgery, “Prof. Dr. I. Chiricuță” Institute of Oncology, 400015 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
3
Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, “Iuliu Hațieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 400012 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
4
Department of Surgical Oncology and Gynecologic Oncology, “Iuliu Hațieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 400012 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
5
Department of Surgical Oncology, “Prof. Dr. I. Chiricuță” Institute of Oncology, 400015 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
6
Department of Quality Management, “Prof. Dr. I. Chiricuță” Institute of Oncology, 400015 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
7
First Surgical Clinic, Faculty of Medicine, “Iuliu Hațieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 400012 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
8
Department of Plastic Surgery and Burn Unit, Emergency District Hospital, 400535 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
9
Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Bihor County Emergency Hospital, 410169 Oradea, Romania
*
Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.
J. Clin. Med. 2026, 15(3), 1170; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm15031170
Submission received: 5 January 2026 / Revised: 24 January 2026 / Accepted: 29 January 2026 / Published: 2 February 2026
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery: Clinical Advances and Future Opportunities)
Versions Notes

Abstract

Background/Objectives: Artificial intelligence (AI) has shown potential in patient education and integration into clinical decision support systems. However, its performance in counseling patients on breast reconstruction currently remains underexplored. This study’s objective is to compare AI-generated answers with expert surgeon responses to common patient questions (derived from clinical scenarios) in domains like oncological justification, reconstructive options, and postoperative care. Methods: We realized an observer-blinded study using five real-world clinical scenarios in the field of oncologic and reconstructive surgery of the breast. Both ChatGPT-5 (October 2025 version) and a senior board-certified plastic surgeon responded to frequently asked questions, which were split into three domains: (1) oncological and surgical justification; (2) reconstruction options and outcomes, respectively; and (3) postoperative period. The answers were evaluated by another senior plastic surgeon using a four-grade ordinal scoring system (1 = unsatisfactory, 4 = excellent), which assessed accuracy, completeness, safety, nuance, and alignment with the current guidelines. Results: Across a total of 40 questions, the average AI response score was 3.1 ± 0.6. Domain-specific items scored lowest values for oncological justification (2.8 ± 0.7) and higher values for reconstruction options/outcomes and postoperative care (both 3.2 ± 0.4). No AI response was graded as unsatisfactory (score 1). Responses graded 4 (15%) were considered comprehensive, accurate, and patient-friendly. Conclusions: Globally, ChatGPT-5 provides satisfactory, readable, and medically accurate answers to basic patient questions on breast reconstruction, with a few limitations in nuanced oncological justification.
Keywords: breast reconstruction; artificial intelligence; ChatGPT; patient education; oncological surgery; postoperative care breast reconstruction; artificial intelligence; ChatGPT; patient education; oncological surgery; postoperative care

Share and Cite

MDPI and ACS Style

Pop, I.C.; Muntean, M.V.; Gata, V.A.; Ilies, R.A.; Nicoara, D.; Filip, C.I.; Pop, V.; Achimas-Cadariu, P.A. Exploring the Balance Between Artificial Intelligence and Human Expertise in Shaping Breast Reconstruction Outcomes: A Comparative Reflection Study. J. Clin. Med. 2026, 15, 1170. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm15031170

AMA Style

Pop IC, Muntean MV, Gata VA, Ilies RA, Nicoara D, Filip CI, Pop V, Achimas-Cadariu PA. Exploring the Balance Between Artificial Intelligence and Human Expertise in Shaping Breast Reconstruction Outcomes: A Comparative Reflection Study. Journal of Clinical Medicine. 2026; 15(3):1170. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm15031170

Chicago/Turabian Style

Pop, Ioan Constantin, Maximilian Vlad Muntean, Vlad Alexandru Gata, Radu Alexandru Ilies, Delia Nicoara, Claudiu Ioan Filip, Vasile Pop, and Patriciu Andrei Achimas-Cadariu. 2026. "Exploring the Balance Between Artificial Intelligence and Human Expertise in Shaping Breast Reconstruction Outcomes: A Comparative Reflection Study" Journal of Clinical Medicine 15, no. 3: 1170. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm15031170

APA Style

Pop, I. C., Muntean, M. V., Gata, V. A., Ilies, R. A., Nicoara, D., Filip, C. I., Pop, V., & Achimas-Cadariu, P. A. (2026). Exploring the Balance Between Artificial Intelligence and Human Expertise in Shaping Breast Reconstruction Outcomes: A Comparative Reflection Study. Journal of Clinical Medicine, 15(3), 1170. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm15031170

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