Picture two radiologists in a lab discussing some mammogram images they just received. They have a third consultant in the room only that the third party is not a breathing human but a computer. Welcome to the future of AI which will supposedly help you save on mammograms by a huge fraction.
Years ago, it was predicted that biology and technology will eventually merge. It is already happening, and one true example is the use of Computer assisted detection in identifying breast cancer in patients. This new technology is already rolling out in the USA, and expert radiologists are impressed by the results.
How it works
CAD plays a big role in mammography by using a field of machine learning known as deep learning. Deep learning involves an algorithmic neural network that is designed to mimic the neural pathways of the human brain, especially those pathways involved with making important decisions. Radiologists then feed mammograms to these algorithm which is calculated and saved into the computer’s memory.
The result is a super intelligent computer that is able to identify a breast tumor on the spot. Radiologists say the success rate is impeccable given the computer’s years of analyzing thousands of images of various lumps in the breast. And as technology continues to improve on this artificial neural network, we see a future of zero errors in breast cancer detection using CAD.
What this means for mammograms patients
Imagine how much money you could save on mammograms if your appointment with a radiologist took less than an hour. You literally walk into the radiology lab, have your image take and have your results on the spot.
Numerous mammograms are taken each year and they cost lots of dollars. There is the imaging bit of it then the hours radiologists have to spend analyzing the images. These images then have to be sent back to a physician who has to schedule a second appointment with the patient to explain the results. All this cost money, and it does not help if one does not have medical cover.
Conclusion
Finally, the wheels of fate are turning with the introduction of AI in radiology. AI is going to take over a number of easier but monotonous tasks that seems to be tiring for humans. This means that doctors will be able to concentrate on the hardest and complicated cases, which are more suitable for humans. This simply means that it is going to cost less time and money to have a mammogram taken, and the result will be more accurate than before.
