The Future Is Here: AI Successfully Predicts Breast Cancer Cases Prior To Diagnosis, Claims New Study

Cutting-edge advancements in artificial intelligence offer the promising potential to detect cancer at an earlier stage, potentially revolutionising the way we diagnose this disease. A new study has left many hopeful for the role of AI in medicine.

Who Was Behind The Study?

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The study was co-authored by nine researchers and led by Solveig Hofvind, who is the head of the Norwegian Breast Cancer Screening Program and professor of radiography at Oslo and Akershus University College of Applied Sciences in Norway.

What Did The Study Claim?

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A novel study highlighted that artificial intelligence played a pivotal role in foreseeing around one-third of breast cancer instances up to two years before they were officially diagnosed. This hugely impacts the grave effects of the disease on human beings, reducing the chances of a late diagnosis.

Where Was The Study Published?

The breakthrough study was published in the journal Radiology last week, according to The Post.

Why Did AI Help?

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Findings from the study unveiled that over 38% of screening-detected and interval cancers obtained a score of 10 for AI risk before the detection of breast cancer. For those unversed, interval cancers refer to those identified between regular mammogram screenings.

In instances of screening-detected cancers, where AI scores were accessible four years before the diagnosis, 23% exhibited a high-risk score of 10.

Hofvind commented in an email to Fox News Digital, ¡°We were surprised about the results, which means that a substantial portion of the cancers can be detected even earlier as [of] today, resulting in less aggressive treatment, and thus fewer side [effects] and late effects of treatment, [leading to] better quality of life.¡±

How Was The Study Conducted?

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The study analyzed imaging data and screening details derived from BreastScreen Norway examinations conducted between January 2004 and December 2019.

As per the study, women who were subsequently diagnosed with breast cancer following these examinations received an AI risk score from a "commercially available AI system." The scoring system ranged from 1 to 7 for low-risk malignancy, 8 to 9 for intermediate risk, and 10 for high-risk malignancy.

The AI score, alongside mammographic characteristics like calcifications and breast density, was evaluated and analyzed in a comprehensive set of 2,787 screening examinations involving 1,602 women, with an average age of 59.

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