Could artificial intelligence improve breast cancer screening accuracy?

SALT LAKE CITY — A new study shows artificial intelligence (AI) improved accuracy in screening for breast cancer, but how do local experts feel about AI assistance?

Dr. Matt Covington, professor of radiology at the Huntsman Cancer Institute, shared how this breakthrough could be helpful.

“I think it’s great. Anything that can help us do better at early detection of breast cancer is welcome,” he said. “There was benefits in using AI systems as a second reader to humans, which I think is an important point.”

He also expressed his hope that AI will push research further than before.

“You know, we shouldn’t do 10 years from now the same things that we’re doing today, because hopefully we’ll be better in 10 years,” Covington said. “We always need to progress. We always need to move forward, because that’s what our patients need.”

With a shortage of radiologists and supporting staff, AI has the potential to help them be more productive and lighten the load of screenings. Although, this study was the first of it’s kind. We’re still a long way from using AI screening in U.S. hospitals.

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