Avenda Health, an artificial intelligence healthcare company, has announced that its specialized software can more accurately assess prostate cancer compared to traditional methods used by doctors. In a recent study, involving ten physicians who evaluated 50 distinct prostate cancer cases each, Avenda’s Unfold AI software achieved an impressive detection accuracy of 84.7%. In contrast, the accuracy of the physicians’ manual evaluations ranged from 67.2% to 75.9%.
This significant research was conducted alongside UCLA Health and was published in the Journal of Urology. The study highlighted that AI’s assistance in cancer contouring enhanced the predictions of tumor sizes by an astonishing 45 times compared to assessments made without AI.
Shyam Natarajan, an assistant adjunct professor at UCLA and the senior author of the study, commented on the findings. He noted that AI assistance improved both the accuracy and consistency of the doctors’ diagnoses, fostering greater agreement among medical professionals using AI.
Rather than relying solely on MRI scans—which can sometimes miss tumors that are not visible—Dr. Wayne Brisbane, another assistant professor at UCLA, emphasized the critical role of AI in identifying tumors more reliably. He expressed optimism about the potential of AI in cancer treatment, suggesting it could lead to more effective, personalized care that aligns closely with a patient’s specific needs.
Dr. Natarajan, CEO of Avenda Health, expressed his enthusiasm for the validation of their innovation through rigorous studies and recognition from the American Medical Association (AMA).
In the broader context, prostate cancer significantly impacts men’s health, with statistics showing that approximately one in eight men will be diagnosed with the disease during their lifetime. For 2023, it is projected that there will be 299,010 new cases of prostate cancer in the U.S., with an estimated 35,250 fatalities from the disease.
Overall, the integration of AI technology in healthcare, particularly in oncology, signals a promising advancement that may improve detection and treatment strategies, ultimately benefiting patients and the medical community alike. The increasing reliability of AI in diagnosing and managing prostate cancer is a hopeful development in the ongoing battle against this prevalent disease.