AI reduces late breast cancer diagnoses by 12% in landmark study

Over 2 million people globally are diagnosed with breast cancer annually, making the disease the leading cause of death in women aged 35 to 50.

Over 2 million people globally are diagnosed with breast cancer annually, making the disease the leading cause of death in women aged 35 to 50. Tags Artificial intelligence, Breast cancer screening, Medical research, Healthcare technology Article Artificial intelligence in breast cancer screening has reduced late diagnoses by 12% whilst increasing early detection rates, according to the largest trial of its kind. The Swedish study involved 100,000 women who underwent mammography screening between April 2021 and December 2022, with participants randomly assigned to either AI-supported screening or standard double radiologist readings. The AI system analysed mammograms and assigned low-risk cases to single readings and high-risk cases to double readings by radiologists. Results published in The Lancet showed 1.55 cancers per 1,000 women in the AI-supported group compared with 1.76 per 1,000 in the control group. Over 81% of cancers in the AI group were detected at screening stage versus 74% in the control group. Dr Kristina Lång from Lund University said AI-supported mammography could reduce radiologist workload pressures and improve early detection, but cautioned that implementation must be done carefully with continuous monitoring. Researchers stressed that screening still requires at least one human radiologist working with AI support rather than replacement. Cancer Research UK's Dr Sowmiya Moorthie called the findings promising but noted more research is needed to confirm life-saving potential. Breast Cancer Now's Simon Vincent highlighted the huge potential for AI to support radiologists, emphasising that earlier diagnosis improves treatment success for a disease affecting over 2 million people globally each year. The Swedish study involved 100,000 women who underwent mammography screening between April 2021 and December 2022, with participants randomly assigned to either AI-supported screening or standard double radiologist readings.- shorten 10:44 The Swedish study involved 100,000 women randomly assigned to either AI-supported screening or standard double radiologist readings between April 2021 and December 2022. The Swedish study involved 100,000 women randomly assigned to either AI-supported screening or standard double radiologist readings between April 2021 and December 2022.- shorten 10:45 The study involved 100,000 Swedish women randomly assigned to either AI-supported screening or standard radiologist readings between April 2021 and December 2022. Dr Kristina Lång from Lund University said AI-supported mammography could reduce radiologist workload pressures and improve early detection, but cautioned that implementation must be done carefully with continuous monitoring.- shorten 10:46 Dr Kristina Lång from Lund University said AI-supported mammography could reduce workload pressures and improve early detection, but cautioned careful implementation with continuous monitoring is essential. shorten 10:46 Dr Kristina Lång from Lund University said AI could reduce workload pressures and improve early detection, but cautioned careful implementation with monitoring is essential. AI in breast cancer screening reduced late diagnoses by 12% and increased early detection rates in a Swedish study of 100,000 women.

AI in breast cancer screening reduced late diagnoses by 12% and increased early detection rates in the largest trial of its kind. The Swedish study involved 100,000 women randomly assigned to AI-supported screening or standard radiologist readings between April 2021 and December 2022.

The AI system analysed mammograms and assigned low-risk cases to single readings and high-risk cases to double readings by radiologists.

Results published in The Lancet showed 1.55 cancers per 1,000 women in the AI group versus 1.76 in the control group, with 81% detected at the screening stage, compared with 74% in the control group.

Dr Kristina Lång from Lund University said AI-supported mammography could reduce radiologist workload pressures and improve early detection, but cautioned that implementation must be done carefully with continuous monitoring.

Researchers stressed that screening still requires at least one human radiologist working alongside AI, rather than AI replacing human radiologists. Cancer Research UK’s Dr Sowmiya Moorthie called the findings promising but noted more research is needed to confirm life-saving potential. 

Breast Cancer Now’s Simon Vincent highlighted the significant potential for AI to support radiologists, emphasising that earlier diagnosis improves treatment outcomes for a disease that affects over 2 million people globally each year.

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