Artificial intelligence is making waves in the medical world, particularly in breast cancer detection. A groundbreaking study involving nearly 500,000 women in Germany has shown that AI can significantly improve mammogram screenings, detecting one additional case of cancer per 1,000 individuals screened.
The study, published on January 7 in Nature Medicine, highlights how AI-assisted screenings achieved a 17.6% higher cancer detection rate compared to traditional methods, without increasing false alarms.
Germany’s breast cancer screening program traditionally relies on two radiologists to independently assess mammograms, with a third stepping in if needed. Given the scale 3 million women screened annually, generating 24 million images the workload for radiologists is immense.
To address this, decision-referral AI software was tested at 12 screening centers between July 2021 and February 2023. The AI classified mammograms as normal, suspicious, or unclassified, assisting radiologists in identifying cases requiring further examination.
“The AI system not only matches human expertise but surpasses it,” said Alexander Katalinic, a cancer epidemiologist at the University of Lübeck.
The study revealed that without AI, six cancer cases per 1,000 patients were detected. With AI, this increased to seven cases per 1,000. Additionally, AI-assisted screenings slightly reduced false positives, where initial suspicions of cancer were later ruled out.
Stefan Bunk, CTO and co-founder of Vara, the Berlin-based company behind the AI, emphasized its potential to replace one of the initial radiologists in the screening process, easing workloads while maintaining accuracy.
While the study shows promise, questions remain about how AI will integrate into radiologists’ workflows. Experts agree it could play a crucial role in addressing the growing demand for efficient and accurate cancer screenings.
With AI proving its worth in real-world applications, this advancement could mark a significant step forward in early cancer detection, potentially saving countless lives.
