The results of the first randomized, controlled trial of its kind involving more than 80,000 women were published in the Lancet Oncology journal.

The world’s most comprehensive trial on the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in breast cancer screening has yielded promising results, suggesting that AI is safe and can reduce the workload of radiologists by almost 50%. Breast cancer is a significant global health issue, affecting over 2.3 million women annually. Early detection through screening can improve prognosis and reduce mortality rates.

The study involved more than 80,000 women in Sweden and compared AI-supported screening directly with standard care. The interim safety analysis revealed that AI screening performed as well as two radiologists working together, without increasing false positives. It detected 41 more cancers, including both invasive and in situ cancers, and the false-positive rate was consistent in both groups. (The Guardian)

Furthermore, AI significantly reduced the workload of radiologists by 44%, with 36,886 fewer screen readings required in the AI group. The study highlights the potential of AI to alleviate the burden on radiologists and improve efficiency in breast cancer screening.

However, the final results, which will determine AI’s impact on interval cancers and cost-effectiveness, are yet to be released. Researchers need to investigate whether combining AI with radiologists’ expertise can detect interval cancers that might be missed during traditional screening.

While the study shows promise, concerns about potential overdiagnosis of harmless lesions, such as ductal carcinoma in situ, have been raised. As the final results are pending, urgent issues in breast screening programs, like outdated IT systems, must be addressed.

Overall, the findings encourage further trials and evaluations to address the radiologist shortage in many countries and explore the potential benefits of integrating AI in mammography screening. AI has the potential to enhance early detection, reduce waiting times for patients, and allow radiologists to focus on more advanced diagnostics. The National Health Service (NHS) in England is already exploring how AI can speed up diagnosis and improve breast cancer detection and outcomes.

Related Story:  AI Being Trialled At Aberdeen Royal Infirmary To Detect Breast Cancer

Photo by National Cancer Institute on Unsplash