Researchers find tools developed for diagnosis can result in early detection of the disease, ensuring better prognosis
Commercial artificial intelligence (AI) based tools developed for the detection of breast cancer can help early diagnosis of the disease, researchers have found.
A breast-level AI score may be able to estimate the risk of future breast cancer and may be used to identify women at high risk who may benefit from preventive measures, including supplemental screening, US and Norwegian researchers reported in Jama Network Open.
AI tools are being increasingly developed and used in medical science particularly for imaging diagnostics where much work has happened in the last few years. “In this retrospective cohort study of women undergoing screening mammography, mean absolute AI scores were higher for breasts developing vs not developing cancer 4 to 6 years before their eventual detection. These findings suggest that commercial AI algorithms developed for breast cancer detection may identify women at high risk of a future breast cancer, offering a pathway for personalized screening approaches that can lead to earlier cancer diagnosis,” the researchers reported.
Breast cancer is one of the commonest cancers found in women the world over and early detection can help in eliminating the disease almost completely thereby making a cancer free life possible. While screening using mammography is becoming popular the world over the success rate is often patchy. That is where AI can better outcomes.
In India breast and lung cancers account for over three lakh new cases every year.
AI algorithms have been developed to mark areas of concern and provide breast-level and examination-level malignant neoplasm scores to aid interpreting radiologists.However, emerging research suggests that these same AI scores may potentially detect imaging features associated with future breast cancers years before they are detected clinically.
