An artificial intelligence (AI) analysis of mammograms detected more cancers than two breast radiologists working together.
According to a new study, without increasing false positives and almost halving the radiologists’ workload.
The AI Advantage to Enhancing Breast Cancer Detection
Interim findings from the first randomized study investigating the use of AI in a national breast cancer screening program, published in the journal The Lancet Oncology.
suggested AI-supported screening detected 20 percent more cancers compared with the routine double reading of mammograms by two breast radiologists.
European guidelines recommend double reading of screening mammograms to ensure high sensitivity.
The US does not have the same standard but like many other countries is experiencing a shortage of breast radiologists.
Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in the US, accounting for about 30 percent of all new cancer cases in women each year.
The study showed that AI use in detecting breast cancer is safe, and it supports the potential of the technology to improve screening efficacy and reduce the workload of radiologists.
Taken together, the evidence suggests that use of AI could potentially benefit mammography screening by reducing the screen reading workload and the number of interval cancers.
But randomized trials are needed to assess the efficacy of AI-supported screening,” the study concluded.
Previous studies have looked at using AI to diagnose breast cancer in mammograms, but they were retrospective, meaning the screenings had already been examined by radiologists.
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AI’s Potential Impact on Radiologist Shortage
The study’s co-author said it’s too early to start implementing AI in hospitals right now.
These promising interim safety results should be used to inform new trials and program-based evaluations to address the pronounced radiologist shortage in many countries.
But they are not enough on their own to confirm that AI is ready to be implemented in mammography screening,men across Sweden between April 2021 and July 2022.
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