Health Council claims Artificial Intelligence can help with mammograms

Women undergoing breast cancer screening could soon find that artificial intelligence (AI) is used to analyze the images. The technology can help find suspicious spots and tumors, according to research published by the Dutch Health Council this week.

The Council says that AI is on a similar level to humans when it comes to analyzing the images. All mammograms are currently looked at by at least two radiologists.

If AI can filter out images that have no abnormalities, it would mean fewer cases which require radiologists for analysis. The radiologists can then check only those suspicious areas when AI identifies the medically questionable cases.

AI can also help to identify women who are at greater risk of breast cancer. Some women could be screened more frequently, while others would be screened less often, the Council said. As AI is improving rapidly, the Council believes it is beneficial to consider using it for the population survey.

Many women complain about pain during a breast exam. The Council says there is not a test which is currently available for use that is as effective, while also causing less discomfort. They reason that other "compression plates" may make the images less clear, which could result in a missed tumor.