AI can screen for breast cancer as accurately as a human radiologist, study suggests.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing radiology, according to some experts. Recently, a study published in The Lancet Oncology journal has found that AI can detect breast cancer as successfully as an experienced radiologist. This finding indicates that AI can increase the availability of radiologists to do more advanced diagnostic work.

The Lancet Oncology published results from a trial with 80,000 female participants in Sweden and revealed that AI detected 20% more cases of breast cancer than usual readings performed by radiologists. At least one radiologist verified the results based on risk factors for the patient. Based on the study, researchers concluded that AI is a “safe” method for mammography screening. It also relieves radiologists of pressure and reduces wait times for patients.

Experts advise that AI models should be trained and tested before being used in healthcare facilities. Thus, it will take time before AI usage is seen in these settings. The study’s lead author, Kristina Lang, states that the study’s results on safety are “promising,” but not enough to implement AI in mammography screening. Other experts such as Nereo Segnan and Antonio Ponti regard the study as “breathtaking.” An article published with the study indicates that using AI screening techniques can reduce breast cancer mortality by identifying it in its earliest stages when it is more treatable.

Robert O’Connor, director of Ireland’s National Clinical Trials Office, referred to the analysis as “game-changing” in a post on X. Additionally, James O’Connor, a professor of radiology at the Institute of Cancer Research in London, said using AI to screen patients will “have the potential to save a lot of time, and this could help with shortages in workflow.”

Despite the potential benefits, experts are concerned about patients’ willingness to use AI in their care. There is also discussion about whether AI is more or less successful at diagnosing breast cancer in certain age groups and ethnicities. In addition, AI may potentially over-diagnose cancers or lead to over-treating patients because it detects cancers that have not spread or may be low-grade. The World Health Organization states that breast cancer resulted in 685,000 deaths globally in 2020. In light of this, AI can be a powerful tool in diagnosing and treating breast cancer.

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