The possible benefit of artificial intelligence in an organized population-related screening program : Initial results and perspective

Abstract

Mammography screening programs (MSP) have shown that breast cancer can be detected at an earlier stage enabling less invasive treatment and leading to abetter survival rate. The considerable numbers of interval breast cancer (IBC) and the additional examinations required, the majority of which turn out not to be cancer, are critically assessed. In recent years companies and universities have used machine learning (ML) to develop powerful algorithms that demonstrate astonishing abilities to read mammograms. Can such algorithms be used to improve the quality of MSP? The original screening mammographies of 251 cases with IBC were retrospectively analyzed using the software ProFound AI® (iCAD) and the results were compared (case score, risk score) with acontrol group. The relevant current literature was also studied. The distributions of the case scores and the risk scores were markedly shifted to higher risks compared to the control group, comparable to the results of other studies. Retrospective studies as well as our own data show that artificial intelligence (AI) could change our approach to MSP in the future in the direction of personalized screening and could enable asignificant reduction in the workload of radiologists, fewer additional examinations and areduced number of IBCs; however, the results of prospective studies are needed before implementation.