(Sheila Tooth / University Hospitals Sussex via SWNS)
By Imogen Howse via SWNS
Artificial intelligence has successfully detected a woman’s breast cancer – after a routine scan came back as ‘normal’.
Sheila Tooth, from Littlehampton, West Sussex, was initially given the all-clear after her most recent mammogram.
As usual, two experienced radiologists reviewed the 68-year-old’s scan and found there were no signs of cancer.
However, University Hospitals Sussex, the trust where Sheila was employed, was at the time taking part in a program using an AI system to further analyze mammograms – to see if this could improve early detection.
The technology detected cancer cells that were undetectable to the human eye, meaning Sheila could receive treatment as quickly as possible.
The retired nurse, who was diagnosed with non-invasive, early breast cancer 15 years ago, said: “I remember the shock of the letter. Because I had had cancer before, I was very scared.
“But I knew that what they could see on my scan must have been incredibly small if it hadn’t been noticed the first time.”
Mother-of-one Sheila was diagnosed with the same early non-invasive breast cancer as before, but because the disease was caught so early she was able to have a lumpectomy and not require further treatment.
Now recovering from the surgery, she says she is so “grateful” for the AI technology.
“It’s extraordinary and I’m amazed,” Sheila said.
“When I talk to friends, we just can’t believe that this AI can detect what the human eye can’t always see. I just feel so happy.
“Because I was 68, this may have been my last mammogram, so my early cancer could have developed into invasive cancer by age 70.
“So I’m very grateful that it was caught so early. It’s just fantastic and all the staff were wonderful – so kind and sweet and very reassuring.”
University Hospitals Sussex is one of 15 trusts across the country to have taken part in the project – which tested whether AI can spot cancers that human ‘readers’ might not see.
The project used an AI system developed by Kheiron Medical Technologies called Mammography Intelligent Assessment – funded by the ‘Artificial Intelligence in Health and Care Award’ from the NIHR and NHS England.
During the two-month project, more than 12,000 mammograms deemed ‘normal’ by radiologists were assessed using the AI system.
The technology suggested that just under 10 percent of those mammograms would need to be read again by a clinical panel to identify any cancers not detected in the initial screening.
Photo by Tara Winstead via Pexels
Upon further investigation, 11 women were asked to return for examination. Five of them turned out to have breast cancer.
Commenting on the plan, Dr. Olga Strukowska, Consultant Radiologist and Director of the West Sussex Breast Screening Programme, said: “We are still in the early stages of AI evaluation in clinical scenarios, but based on current studies and research projects, AI should find its place within the breast screening programme.
“The earlier and more accurately we detect cancer, the more likely our patients will have a positive outcome.
“That’s why this is so exciting. Using AI increases accuracy, while reducing the number of missed cancer cases and reducing the number of false positives.
“It enables screening services to deliver reliable, accurate and timely results through deep learning technology that collaborates with radiologists and promotes high quality standards of care for our patients.”
Steve Dixon, Senior AI Project Lead for Breast Services, added: “I feel privileged to be part of the UHSussex breast screening teams in this ground-breaking evaluation project to explore one of the potential applications of AI within the NHS breast screening programme. demonstrate.
“I have no doubt that integrating AI with physician expertise will ultimately increase the effectiveness of patient care, improving both outcomes and the quality of patient services.”
University Hospitals Sussex now plans to take part in a national randomized controlled trial of AI – part of the next phase of the technology’s introduction into breast cancer screening.
Currently, 55,000 women in the UK are diagnosed with breast cancer every year.
The NHS invites women aged 50 to 71 for routine mammography appointments every three years.
To be invited for the breast cancer screening programme, you must be registered with a GP.
