(AI) is a game-changer in breast cancer screening as the world’s largest trial of its kind shows it is safe and can significantly reduce the workload of radiologists. Breast most cancers is the maximum not unusualplace most cancers withinside the world, affecting extra than 2.3 million women every year, according to the World Health Organization. Early detection of breast cancer through screening improves prognosis and reduces mortality rates. Preliminary results from a large study indicate that AI screening works as well as two radiologists working together, without increasing false positives and cutting workload nearly in half.
AI for breast cancer: Safety analysis
Published in the journal Lancet Oncology, interim results from the safety analysis of the first randomized controlled trial of AI in breast cancer screening involved more than 80,000 Swedish women, with an average age of 54. This groundbreaking study directly compared AI-assisted screening to standard care.Half of the scans had been evaluated through radiologists, at the same time as the alternative halfwere evaluated using AI-assisted screening followed by interpretation by one or two radiologists.
In the AI-supported screening group, 244 women (28%) were recalled due to potential cancer findings, compared to 203 women (25%) in the standard screening group. The AI led to the detection of 41 other cancers, of which 19 were invasive and 22 were cancers in situ.Importantly, the AI no longer produced false positives, maintaining a rate of 1.5% in both groups.Additionally, radiologist workload became notably decreased withinside the AI group, with 36,886 fewer display readingsthan in standard care, translating to a 44% reduction in patient workload. screen reading.
AI is an effective tool to help breast cancer?
While the final results, expected in the coming years, will assess whether AI will reduce the number of interval cancers (cancers detected between screenings with poorer prognosis) and the overall impact on screening for breast cancer, this interim analysis confirms that AI is an effective tool for mammography screening.
dr. Kristina Lång, the lead author from Lund University in Sweden, points to the potential of artificial intelligence to ease the burden on radiologists, allowing them to focus on more advanced diagnoses and shorten waiting times for the patients.
Some experts urge caution
However, some experts urge caution because the AI-induced increase in breast cancer detection could lead to overdiagnosis of relatively harmless lesions. The final results of the trial will provide insight into the role of AI in breast cancer screening.
While AI holds tremendous promise in healthcare, including breast cancer screening, addressing other pressing issues in screening programs, such as outdated computer systems, is essential to ensure efficient and timely patient care. The NHS in England, recognizing the potential of artificial intelligence, is already exploring ways to harness the technology to speed up diagnosis and improve patient outcomes.
In the ever-changing landscape of medical technology, the integration of AI has vast potential for the future of breast cancer screening, transforming the way we detect and treat this widespread disease.