A healthcare technology firm has claimed that its AI software can surpass human doctors in accurately assessing the extent of prostate cancer. Avenda Health conducted a study involving ten physicians, each evaluating 50 prostate cancer cases. Their AI tool, known as Unfold AI, achieved an accuracy rate of 84.7%, while the doctors’ manual assessments ranged from 67.2% to 75.9%.
This study, in collaboration with UCLA Health, was published in the Journal of Urology. It highlighted that when AI assisted with cancer contouring, predictions of tumor size were found to be 45 times more accurate and consistent compared to traditional methods.
Dr. Shyam Natarajan, assistant adjunct professor of urology, surgery, and bioengineering at UCLA, noted that AI assistance improved both the accuracy and consistency of the doctors’ assessments. There was a noteworthy increase in agreement among physicians using AI tools.
Traditionally, doctors rely on MRIs to ascertain tumor size; however, some tumors are not visible on these scans. Dr. Wayne Brisbane, assistant professor of urology at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, emphasized that AI can reveal information that MRIs may miss.
“This advancement in AI technology is poised to facilitate more effective and personalized treatment options for patients,” Dr. Brisbane stated. He believes AI has the potential to enhance medical capabilities beyond human limitations.
Dr. Natarajan, CEO of Avenda Health, expressed enthusiasm for the validation of this innovation through research and recognition by the American Medical Association.
According to the American Cancer Society, approximately 1 in 8 men in the U.S. will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during their lifetime, with a projection of 299,010 new cases this year. Sadly, it is estimated that 35,250 men will succumb to the disease.
The integration of AI in healthcare, particularly in oncology, is paving the way for more precise diagnostics and fostering hope for improved cancer management and outcomes for patients. This breakthrough illustrates the potential for technology to enhance human capabilities and tailor treatments to the unique needs of individuals battling cancer.