A healthcare company specializing in artificial intelligence has announced that its software can detect prostate cancer more accurately than traditional methods used by doctors. Avenda Health’s Unfold AI software demonstrated an impressive accuracy rate of 84.7% in identifying cancer, significantly surpassing the accuracy of physicians, who ranged from 67.2% to 75.9% in their assessments.
This study, conducted in collaboration with UCLA Health and published in the Journal of Urology, involved ten doctors evaluating 50 separate prostate cancer cases. The research highlighted the transformative role of AI in improving cancer detection. The findings revealed that when AI assisted in contouring cancer, predictions regarding cancer size were 45 times more accurate and consistent compared to evaluations without AI assistance.
Dr. Shyam Natarajan, an assistant adjunct professor of urology, surgery, and bioengineering at UCLA, emphasized the benefits of AI in providing more reliable and consistent results, thereby enhancing the collaborative decision-making among doctors.
Additionally, Dr. Wayne Brisbane, an assistant professor of urology at UCLA, noted that while MRI scans are typically used to assess tumor size, some tumors can be undetectable through MRI. In such cases, AI proves to be an invaluable tool, filling in the gaps where traditional imaging may fall short.
The incorporation of AI in cancer treatment is poised to lead to more effective and personalized care, enabling treatments tailored to individual patient needs and improving outcomes in the fight against prostate cancer, according to Dr. Brisbane.
Prostate cancer remains a critical health issue, with approximately 1 in 8 men in the U.S. expected to receive a diagnosis in their lifetime, and around 1 in 44 will succumb to the disease. Anticipated statistics for this year alone suggest there will be 299,010 new prostate cancer cases, with 35,250 deaths attributed to the illness.
This breakthrough in AI-assisted healthcare signifies a hopeful advancement in cancer diagnosis and treatment, yielding optimism for enhanced patient care and successful intervention in the battle against prostate cancer.
In summary, the emergence of AI technology in healthcare revises traditional practices, ultimately aiming to save lives through earlier and more accurate detection and tailored treatment plans.