Early Detection of Breast Cancer with AI
A Breakthrough in Cancer Diagnosis
Artificial intelligence (AI) has been successfully used to identify women who are at a higher risk of developing breast cancer several years before a diagnosis. According to the Norwegian Institute of Public Health (FHI), the AI algorithm was able to predict which women ran a higher risk of developing breast cancer, and even identify which breast was at risk, four to six years before a diagnosis.
Retroactive Analysis
The study involved five researchers from FHI, the University of California, and the University of Washington who were given access to a commercially available AI programme to retroactively analyse the mammographies of 116,495 women who took part in a Norwegian detection programme between 2004 and 2018. In total, 1,607 of the women developed breast cancer.
Predictive Power
The algorithm was able to predict which women ran a higher risk of developing breast cancer, and even identify which breast was at risk, four to six years before a diagnosis. According to Solveig Hofvind, who heads the detection programme and the AI project, “We noted that the breast which developed cancer had an AI score about twice as high as the other breast.”
Personalised Detection Programmes
The study shows that the AI algorithms already available on the market can be used to develop more personalised detection programmes. AI could be used for early detection of breast cancer, to reduce costs and better target at-risk populations, FHI said.
Global Impact
According to the World Health Organisation, 670,000 women died of breast cancer in 2022, the most common form of cancer among women in most countries. The study is published in the Journal of the American Medical Association Network, which edits a collection of prestigious medical journals.
The Norwegian detection programme also launched a project last year involving 140,000 women to determine whether AI could be as efficient as, or even better than, radiologists to diagnose cancer cases.
Conclusion
The use of AI in the detection of breast cancer has the potential to revolutionise the way we approach cancer diagnosis and treatment. By identifying women who are at a higher risk of developing breast cancer several years before a diagnosis, AI can help reduce costs and better target at-risk populations. This breakthrough has the potential to save thousands of lives and improve the quality of life for millions of women around the world.
FAQs
Q: How did the AI algorithm predict which women were at risk of developing breast cancer?
A: The AI algorithm was able to predict which women were at risk of developing breast cancer by analyzing the mammographies of 116,495 women who took part in a Norwegian detection programme between 2004 and 2018.
Q: How accurate was the AI algorithm in predicting which women were at risk of developing breast cancer?
A: The AI algorithm was able to predict which women were at risk of developing breast cancer with a high degree of accuracy. According to Solveig Hofvind, who heads the detection programme and the AI project, “We noted that the breast which developed cancer had an AI score about twice as high as the other breast.”
Q: How can AI be used to improve breast cancer diagnosis and treatment?
A: AI can be used to improve breast cancer diagnosis and treatment by identifying women who are at a higher risk of developing breast cancer several years before a diagnosis. This can help reduce costs and better target at-risk populations, and can also help improve the quality of life for millions of women around the world.
Q: What are the next steps for this research?
A: The Norwegian detection programme is continuing to study the use of AI in the detection of breast cancer, and is currently involved in a project involving 140,000 women to determine whether AI can be as efficient as, or even better than, radiologists to diagnose cancer cases.