Artificial intelligence (AI) will reduce the time it takes NHS patients to diagnose lung cancer.
The program analyzes X-ray scans immediately after they are taken and alerts doctors if alarming signs are noticed.
This means that a week’s diagnosis can be reduced to the same day.
Experts say early diagnosis is critical to treating lung cancer, which is so aggressive that even detecting it a few days early can save lives.
Doctors examining X-rays for possible signs of lung cancer can take up to a week to make a diagnosis, which can affect the patient’s long-term outlook
Developed by British Covid vaccine company AstraZeneca and Indian tech firm Qure AI, the software is being rolled out in Greater Manchester as part of a pilot study involving more than 250,000 people over the next six months.
Developed by British Covid vaccine company AstraZeneca and Indian technology firm Qure AI, the software will be rolled out in Greater Manchester over the next six months as part of a pilot study involving more than 250,000 people. Concerned doctors say the system could be rolled out across the NHS if successful.
AstraZeneca is now the second Covid vaccine maker to shift its focus to artificial intelligence, as experts predict all NHS doctors will soon be working with the high-tech software.
Almost 50,000 Britons are diagnosed with lung cancer each year. During that time, more than 35,000 people have died from the disease, making it the UK’s leading cancer killer.
An X-ray is usually the first test done for signs of the disease, including growths in the lungs, which may be tumors, and fluid or swollen lymph nodes in the chest.
“I would say it’s the most difficult x-ray to analyse,” says Professor Matt Evison, consultant breast specialist at the Greater Manchester Cancer Alliance.
“Because there is so much going on in this part of the body – both the spine and the lungs – you have to look very carefully. This means it can take up to a week for patients to get their results.
“Given the aggressiveness of lung cancer, this wait can have a significant impact on how effective the treatment will be.”
According to a study in the medical journal The Lancet, delays in the diagnosis and treatment of lung cancer are responsible for nearly five percent of deaths from the disease in England.
AI software flags X-rays that show worrisome signs of disease so doctors can take a closer look first.
“We are still reviewing all scans,” says Prof. Evison, “but with this new system we prioritize the review of the most concerning. You can get results the same day.
“This is more important than ever given the tremendous pressure the healthcare industry is currently under. We need to make these diagnoses quickly, but our resources are limited.
“If it works, I can absolutely see it being used across the country.”
The news comes just days after Covid vaccine developer BioNTech – which worked with pharmaceutical giant Pfizer to develop the first approved vaccine in the US – announced it was buying UK artificial intelligence company InstaDeep for £562m. BioNTech plans to use the company’s technology to accelerate the drug and vaccine development process.
Experts say AI will play an increasingly important role in the NHS over the next decade.
“Every NHS doctor will be trained to work with artificial intelligence in the near future,” says Professor Nick Hawes, AI expert at the University of Oxford. “This could be used to decide which treatment is most appropriate for a newly diagnosed cancer patient, or to create a much more effective 111 referral system.”
“Artificial intelligence will never replace doctors, but it will be an additional tool that speeds up the medical process.”
Source link
Crystal Leahy is an author and health journalist who writes for The Fashion Vibes. With a background in health and wellness, Crystal has a passion for helping people live their best lives through healthy habits and lifestyles.
