AI Boosts Breast Cancer Detection by 20%: Study
Artificial intelligence (AI) has shown promising results in increasing the detection of breast cancer, according to a recent study published in The Lancet Oncology. The research indicates that AI can improve detection rates by 20% compared to standard screening methods conducted by radiologists.
The study, which involved 80,000 eligible women for a mammogram in Sweden, revealed that AI technology detected 244 screen-detected cancers and led to 861 recalls. In contrast, traditional screening methods detected 203 cancers and resulted in 817 recalls. This demonstrates the potential of AI to enhance the accuracy and efficiency of breast cancer screening.
Researchers further analyzed the results and found that AI had a detection rate of 6 per 1,000 women screened, surpassing the lowest acceptable safety limit. Normal screening methods, on the other hand, had a detection rate of 5 per 1,000 women screened.
Another significant finding was that AI technology alleviated the screen-reading burden for radiologists by approximately 44%. This reduction in workload is particularly valuable given the shortage of radiologists reported by the Radiological Society of North America.
Despite the benefits, both AI-assisted screening methods and standard procedures recorded a similar false positive rate of 1.5%. However, this minor drawback does not overshadow the potential advantages brought by AI in improving breast cancer detection.
Dr. Kristina Lang, lead author of the study, emphasized that further research is necessary to fully understand the role of AI in mammograms. However, she believes that AI holds great potential for strengthening future screenings by relieving radiologists of excessive reading tasks.
She stated, While our AI-supported screening system requires at least one radiologist in charge of detection, it could potentially do away with the need for double reading of the majority of mammograms, easing the pressure on workloads and enabling radiologists to focus on more advanced diagnostics while shortening waiting times for patients.
The study marks the first trial investigating the use of AI in radiology and mammograms. Dr. Stamatia Destounis, a radiologist with Elizabeth Wende Breast Care in Rochester, New York, expressed enthusiasm for this breakthrough, highlighting the importance of early breast cancer detection in improving patient prognoses.
With mammography, our goal is to detect breast cancer as early as possible, to give each patient the best prognosis, so anything that will make us more accurate is a wonderful thing, she said.
The successful integration of AI in breast cancer detection could revolutionize screening methods and lead to faster diagnoses, allowing for timely treatment and ultimately saving lives. As further research and development take place, AI has the potential to enhance the field of radiology and transform the way breast cancer is detected and managed.
