Computers may boost breast screening
Thursday October 2nd, 2008
Computers have successfully replaced human radiologists in a study of breast cancer screening, researchers revealed today.
The computer can be used to replace one of the two radiologists who checks mammograms in the British screening programme, researchers said.
And the computer aided detection software can be used to improve the accuracy of screening in other countries, such as the USA, where only one radiologist checks the scans, it was claimed.
Findings from the study were reported in the New England Journal of Medicine last night. More details are to be reported to the National Cancer Research Institute conference in Birmingham next week.
Some 28,000 British women took part in the research. Their scans were analysed by both means, by two radiologists and by one radiologist working with a computer.
Researchers said the computer-backed analysis was "just as effective" as the traditional means.
In Britain it is hoped it may lead to the expansion of the breast screening programme as radiologists can be used more efficiently.
Researcher Professor Fiona Gilbert, of Aberdeen University, Scotland, said: "The study has huge international significance. Using CAD is likely to improve breast cancer detection in those countries where only a single reader is used.
"In the UK, it will mean that the same number of experts can read more mammograms in a given period of time."
Dr Lesley Walker, of Cancer Research, said: "This is good news for women – particularly for those who live in areas where invitations for screening have been late in arriving.
"We will always need the human eye of an expert to read mammograms. In the rare instance when the computer is at odds with the radiologist the human interpretation takes precedence.
"But now we know that a computer can help give more accurate readings there is bound to be an improvement in the national screening programme which already saves 1400 lives a year through early detection of breast cancer."
NEJM On-line October 1, 2008 (DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa0803545)
Tags: Cancer | Women’s Health & Gynaecology | UK News
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