Radiologists Catch More Aggressive Breast Cancers By Using AI To Help Read Mammograms, Study Finds (www.cbc.ca)
(Friday January 30, 2026 @05:00AM (BeauHD)
from the would-you-look-at-that dept.)
- Reference: 0180696444
- News link: https://science.slashdot.org/story/26/01/30/0616204/radiologists-catch-more-aggressive-breast-cancers-by-using-ai-to-help-read-mammograms-study-finds
- Source link: https://www.cbc.ca/news/health/mammograms-ai-sweden-9.7067182
A large Swedish study of 100,000 women found that using AI to assist radiologists reading mammograms [1]reduced the rate of aggressive "interval" breast cancers by 12% . CBC News reports:
> For the study -- [2]published in Thursday's issue of the medical journal The Lancet -- more than 100,000 women had mammography screenings. Half were supported by AI and the rest had their mammograms reviewed by two different radiologists, a standard practice in much of Europe known as double reading. It is not typically used in Canada, where usually one radiologist checks mammograms.
>
> The study looked at the rates of interval cancer, the term doctors use for invasive tumors that appear between routine mammograms. They can be harder to detect and studies have shown that they are more likely to be aggressive with a poorer prognosis. The rate of interval cancers decreased by 12 percent in the groups where the AI screening was implemented, the study showed. [...] Throughout the two-year study, the mammograms that were supported by AI were triaged into two different groups. Those that were determined to be low risk needed only one radiologist to examine them, while those that were considered high risk required two. The researchers reported that numerically, the AI-supported screening resulted in 11 fewer interval cancers than standard screening (82 versus 93, or 12 per cent).
>
> "This is really a way to improve an overall screening test," [said lead author, Dr. Kristina Lang]. She acknowledged that while the study found a decrease in interval cancer, longer-term studies are needed to find out how AI-supported screening might impact mortality rates. The screenings for the study all took place at one centre in Sweden, which the researchers acknowledged is a limitation. Another is that the race and ethnicity of the participants were not recorded. The next step, Lang said, will be for Swedish researchers to determine cost-effectiveness.
[1] https://www.cbc.ca/news/health/mammograms-ai-sweden-9.7067182
[2] https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(25)02464-X/fulltext
> For the study -- [2]published in Thursday's issue of the medical journal The Lancet -- more than 100,000 women had mammography screenings. Half were supported by AI and the rest had their mammograms reviewed by two different radiologists, a standard practice in much of Europe known as double reading. It is not typically used in Canada, where usually one radiologist checks mammograms.
>
> The study looked at the rates of interval cancer, the term doctors use for invasive tumors that appear between routine mammograms. They can be harder to detect and studies have shown that they are more likely to be aggressive with a poorer prognosis. The rate of interval cancers decreased by 12 percent in the groups where the AI screening was implemented, the study showed. [...] Throughout the two-year study, the mammograms that were supported by AI were triaged into two different groups. Those that were determined to be low risk needed only one radiologist to examine them, while those that were considered high risk required two. The researchers reported that numerically, the AI-supported screening resulted in 11 fewer interval cancers than standard screening (82 versus 93, or 12 per cent).
>
> "This is really a way to improve an overall screening test," [said lead author, Dr. Kristina Lang]. She acknowledged that while the study found a decrease in interval cancer, longer-term studies are needed to find out how AI-supported screening might impact mortality rates. The screenings for the study all took place at one centre in Sweden, which the researchers acknowledged is a limitation. Another is that the race and ethnicity of the participants were not recorded. The next step, Lang said, will be for Swedish researchers to determine cost-effectiveness.
[1] https://www.cbc.ca/news/health/mammograms-ai-sweden-9.7067182
[2] https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(25)02464-X/fulltext
NNs are classifiers (Score:2)
by jd ( 1658 )
Using them for linear separation of states in order to classify results is precisely how they should be used.
Glad this is progressing... (Score:2)
by ctilsie242 ( 4841247 )
I remember one of the uses for image filters back in the 1990s when I was in college was to take X-rays and use different image filter types to help more easily find calcifications, tumors, and other "sus" items. I'm glad this is moving along, because this is where AI can be extremely helpful. Worst case, a biopsy happens and some benign lesions are removed.
Excellent use of AI (Score:1)
Finally a use for AI that actually improves people's lifes. We need more of this and less slop and deep fakes..