AI-integrated mammogram assessments show enhanced accuracy, as per study conclusions.
In Chicago, numerous women are inclined to opt for AI-enhanced mammograms, even if they bear the cost personally, as per a study presented at the annual gathering of the Radiological Society of North America. The study indicates a 15% increase in cancer detection likelihood with the use of AI.
This is significant considering a previous team had reported that even in Australia, where mammograms are reviewed by multiple radiologists, there is still a 369 per 10,000 rate of false positives and an 18.6 per 10,000 rate of false negatives. AI, equipped with deep-learning processes, is touted as a means to minimize these errors, sparing patients from unnecessary tests while enhancing the detection of cancer.
The research, led by AI expert Bryan Haslam from DeepHeath in Somerville, Massachusetts, analyzed over 740,000 women who underwent mammograms at ten different medical systems. Despite having to fund the additional AI usage themselves, almost a fourth of these women chose to participate, with the figure rising throughout the one-year study. Although the cost was undisclosed, it is estimated at around $40 to $100 by the Susan G. Koman Foundation.
The research revealed that the cancer detection rate in women opting for the AI process was 43% higher than in those who did not. While participants with a family history or other risk factors may have contributed to this, even after controlling for such factors, supplementing standard mammography with an AI scan increased the cancer detection rate by 21%. Moreover, an added review by a second radiologist in case of disagreement between the initial radiologist and the AI improved accuracy.
Notably, despite not all participants having cancer, AI assistance still identified 15% more actual cancers compared to the standard process. The study's authors claimed that the AI-driven review program helped ensure early cancer detection among women with suspicious findings.
As the rate of women opting for this program increases to 36% and beyond, the authors asserted that randomized trials are needed to eliminate self-selection bias and strengthen proof of AI's worth.
Primary care physician Kelly Scott, based in Portland, Oregon, who was not part of the study team, expressed her admiration for the results. She noted that radiology was a field where AI was likely to offer help in detecting minor or subtle abnormalities, particularly when supported by human radiologists' interpretations. However, the added cost might widen disparities in breast cancer detection between the affluent and less privileged, Scott cautioned, if insurance does not cover it.
Despite AI's encouraging results, it is crucial to remember that it functions best as a collaborative tool with human radiologists in diagnosing breast cancer, rather than a standalone solution. The integration of AI is expected to make screenings more efficient, accessible, and cost-effective in the long run.
Reference:[Technology] - AI shows promise for predicting effectiveness of chemotherapy in breast cancer treatment, originally published by Cosmos as AI-assisted mammogram readings more effective, researchers find.
- The integration of artificial intelligence in health-and-wellness, particularly women's health, such as AI-enhanced mammograms, is being embraced by women even at personal cost, as demonstrated by the increase in its usage.
- In the field of science, especially in the arena of radiology, artificial intelligence, backed by human radiologists' interpretations, is projected to aid in the detection of subtle abnormalities, potentially making screenings more efficient and cost-effective.
