Breast cancer screening now safer (Image Source: Freepik)
Prater, New Delhi. Technology has taken another big leap in the medical world. A comprehensive study conducted in Sweden has proved that the use of artificial intelligence in breast cancer screening is not only safe, but it is also more effective than traditional methods.
The 2023 results published in 'The Lancet' magazine have attracted the attention of doctors and researchers around the world. Let us know what was special found in this research and why it is important for the future.
AI vs standard screening
The study, conducted as part of Sweden's national breast cancer screening program, found that AI-assisted mammography provides more accurate results than conventional mammography. The biggest achievement was that the use of AI detected 20 percent more cancer cases than standard screening.
The study was conducted between April 2021 and December 2022, in which more than 1,05,900 women participated. These were randomly divided into two groups – one group was examined with the help of AI and the other with standard double reading (by a radiologist).
Radiologist's work half done
Another major advantage of this technology is the reduction in the workload of doctors. The research found that with the help of AI, the screen reading work of radiologists was reduced by 44 percent. Dr. Christina Lang (Clinical Researcher) of Lund University said that this is the first randomized controlled trial of its kind. With the help of AI, even aggressive types of cancer can be detected in the early stages, making timely treatment possible.
What is 'interval cancer' and the impact of AI?
'Interval cancer' is cancer that develops between two scheduled screening tests (ie the previous test was negative, but the disease was detected before the next check-up).
This means that the use of AI reduced interval cancer diagnoses by 12 percent, indicating that AI had caught the disease during screening itself. Also, the rate of 'false positive' results was almost the same in both groups.
How easy is the path for India?
Although the results from Sweden are encouraging, the challenges are different in the Indian context.
AI-enabled mammography has the potential to change the future of breast cancer screening. It can not only handle more cases but can also lighten the workload of radiologists. However, adapting it to the health system of each country will be a big challenge.
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