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AN ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE programme has been developed which can detect breast cancer from mammograms better than experts, a study found.
A new study has found that an AI system developed by Google Health can identify cancer in breast screening mammograms with fewer false positives, and fewer false negatives than radiologists.
The programme was developed in collaboration with DeepMind, Cancer Research UK Imperial Centre, Northwestern University, and Royal Surrey County Hospital.
Researchers said that the AI model was trained and tuned on anonymised mammograms from more than 76,000 women in the UK and more than 15,000 women in the US to see if it could learn to spot signs of breast cancer.
It was then tested on a separate data selection of more than 25,000 women in the UK and over 3,000 women in the US.
The study found that the AI system produced a 1.2% reduction in false positives, where a mammogram is reported as abnormal when no cancer is present, and 2.7% reduction of false negatives, when the scan is reported as normal even though breast cancer is present, in the UK.
This compared to a 5.7% reduction in false positives and 9.4% reduction of false negatives in the USA.
It said that while human experts had access to patient histories and prior mammograms when making screening decisions, the AI system only processed the most recent mammogram with no extra information and “compared favourably”.
The team said that the latest study, published in the journal Nature on Wednesday, “set the stage” for the model to potentially support radiologists performing breast cancer screenings.
Dominic King from Google Health said: “Our team is really proud of these research findings, which suggest that we are on our way to developing a tool that can help clinicians spot breast cancer with greater accuracy.
“Further testing, clinical validation and regulatory approvals are required before this could start making a difference for patients, but we’re committed to working with our partners towards this goal.”
Screening mammography, the most widely used breast cancer screening tool, is an X-ray taken of the breast from multiple views and the images are then analysed by at least one radiologist in the US or two in the UK.
Breast cancer is the most common cancer in the UK – with around 55,000 people diagnosed every year, according to Cancer Research UK.
The charity said one in seven women in the UK develops breast cancer during their lifetime, and it more common in older women.
Michelle Mitchell, Cancer Research UK’s chief executive, said: “These results highlight the significant role that AI could play in the future of cancer care.
“Embracing technology like this may help improve the way we diagnose cancer in the years to come.
“Screening helps diagnose breast cancer at an early stage, when treatment is more likely to be successful, ensuring more people survive the disease. But it also has harms such as diagnosing cancers that would never have gone on to cause any problems and missing some cancers.
“This is still early stage research, but it shows how AI could improve breast cancer screening and ease pressure off the NHS. And while further clinical studies are needed to see how and if this technology could work in practice, the initial results are promising.”
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Can we get a report on the 30 plus Garda cars at the red cow last night?
@Rebecca De Stanleigh: Trouble at Diva isn’t exactly news. It’s always been a kip.
@Rebecca De Stanleigh: Baghdad, famous for coked up chungfellas having too much to drink kicking the shit out of each other.
@Rebecca De Stanleigh: Something kicking off there isn’t surprising in the slightest. It’s always been frequented by neanderthals. Slightly bigger scale, I’m still not shocked. Given it’s all over social media I don’t think it’ll fly under the radar if the Journal doesn’t write an article about it.
@Rebecca De Stanleigh: https://youtu.be/dAM0B6RuQU8
Can’t wait to see the future of AI
@sb: you are a complete idiot if you can’t wait . AI will be very dangerous soon not for the good of humans . The Chinese , Americans , Russia , UK are developing AI for modern combat . No not quite Terminator but nonetheless just as dangerous. While AI could do so much good we all know AI will be used for more bad than good .
@JDB: I think physical technology has a long way to come before it is truly dangerous. This is all software based. Sure they can inflict harm if given the opportunity, but only through existing man made threats i.e. An AI taking control of nuclear launching facilities…
@JDB: robots killing eachother would be better than humans surely? And less likely to commit war crimes.
@JDB: stop withbthe fud -
https://thenextweb.com/artificial-intelligence/2018/08/02/a-beginners-guide-to-ai-algorithms/
@sb: What’s more worrying is the use of AI by totalitarian states. Even Gorge Orwell couldn’t dream up the sort of all pervasive surveillance state that is possible even with current technology. Very scary
@Niall Brew: hi Nial I work in the field of AI I know what I am talking about unfortunately.
@The Guru: Right now we have drones capable of flying above the earth maintaining altitude and searching for very specific parameters on the ground in the field of combat and can recommend to command what targets to hit . It is only a matter of time before the AI will be allowed to determine a strike or not without human input .
We also know that rogue states are using AI to spread malware quicker than Intrusion systems can detect .
We also know the US is developing Tanks W that are fully automated and co trolled via AI.
We also know A1 is been used to develop attack strategies on the enemy .
We know Microsoft working very closely with American Defence dept on AI .
@JDB: just as a matter of interest, you certainly seem to have very strong feelings about the negatives of AI- if so, why do you work in this field and maybe you could share some positives?
@JDB: Just to add to Teegan’s point, in your opinion do you feel that it is not possible to regulate AI and why do you think there is not uproar from employees of companies like Microsoft and others developing technology potentially dangerous to humans? That is a point I can’t understand as surely they are people who are clued in enough. I’m genuinely interested to hear your views.
In the next decade or so AI would be able to beat humans in almost any job. Let’s hope AI is not taught how to re-program itself.
@Kartz: AI by its name is effectively reprogramming itself like a human by learning . Google , Microsoft and Amazon are after letting the genie out of the bag not good.
@JDB: As worrying as it is to have the genie out of the bag, at least the cat is still in the lamp.
@Ciarán Ó Fallúin: what would be more worrying is them opening Pandoras can and putting the worms in her box
@Ciarán Ó Fallúin: you genuinely have no idea what is coming in terms of A1 do you . Mark my words in the next ten years everyone will be talking about AI and how we can regain control .
Climate change will look like a small problem.
@JDB: Sharon is A1.
AI* will replace me in my job ultimately, but it’s a skillset that’s transferrable and I’m skilling up accordingly.
This is the type of diagnosis that machine learning is well-suited to. The issue is who is liable for misdiagnosis. The other thing is the controls to access of patient data. Early diagnosis saves lives . There are many companies working on this. There’s also fascinating work being carried out in UCG on protein folding and rates of metasis using machine learning.
That won’t make for as good a TV Show. Patient goes in. Files get uploaded to PC. Dr.Mac & Dr.Windows gives diagnosis. Show over.
As regards an actual cure cannabis oil is what you want but obviously big pharma will go to extreme lengths to ensure it remains banned as they’ll lose millions
@Sean71: not sure how cannabis oil could detect breast cancer in a mammogram, strange for you to bring it up. Licences are being passed but like any medicines it has to go through strict regulations it takes time. While it may relieve symptoms it will not help or cure all cancers it is not a magic cure
@LittleBee: I never actually said “detect” I said cure, it might not help cure All cancers but it’s been proven to be much more effective than drugs which big pharma push on the public, it helped the sister in law immensely when she was going through chemo
@Sean71: cannabis oil a cure for breast cancer?
You’re smoking too much weed.
@Sean71: why would they block it’s sale? If their is money to be made I’m sure they would be involved. After all the quack medicine business is booming, just look at the amount and prices of homeopathic goods.
@Sean71: helped her immensely while she was going through chemo. So it did not cure her and she did use big pharma in her treatment. My sisters friend on the other hand still died. I’m not denying it is beneficial to some patients but we must be careful not to sell it as a cure all natural remedy, that is every bit as damaging as Big Pharma as you put it. All medicines be them natural or manufactured must be rigorously tested and monitored before during and after use. It takes time and no doctor is going to prescribe a medication without it and no patient should be allowed to self medicate you only have to look at the amount of older people hooked on solphadine to see the results of that.
@Chin Feeyin: I don’t smoke weed mate and I never actually stated it was an actual cure
@LittleBee: yes it helped her far more so than the other crap she was getting
@Brendan Cooney: because they want people to believe the products they sell are a cute and not something natural that derives from a plant
@Sean71: You stated “As regards an actual cure cannabis oil is what you want”
Are you sure you’re not smoking something?
@Sean71: As far as I know it is used sometimes to relieve the symptoms caused by chemotherapy – but the chemotherapy is what is killing the cancer.
@Sean71: and how were you able to measure that the cannabis oil killed the cancer as opposed to the chemo. So while cannabis oil may have relieved her symptoms during treatment why did she not stop chemo altogether if cannabis oil is such a wonder drug. Is it perhaps because chemo as harsh as it is actually kills cancer.
@Sean71: Anyway this article is about AI detecting breast cancer. It’s a good thing, it’s one of the more positive ways that technology can be used to save lives , I’m delighted to see AI being used in medicine rather then targeting me with ads based on my google searches. It’s a good thing and big pharma help fund this research. Sometimes you need to see the bigger picture. Oh and by the way do you honestly think big pharma dont have a stake in cannabis oil, who do you think mass produces it and pays for the research testing and licensing thats required to sell it certainly not smokey Steve from down the pub that’s for sure. I could grow penicillin in my kitchen but I’d much rather pop to the doctors and be treated by a professional who can monitor my symptoms.
@Sean71: while I’m sure you mean well, I think it’s widely accepted that cannabis is not the magic bullet that a lot of people are led to believe. I am no expert but I was led to believe Cannabis has been proven to relieve the nausea associated with Chemo but there is little evidence to suggest it’s a magic cure.
I too am a victim of cancer and I was cured using traditional well proven and understood treatment of chemo, it was a horrific period in my life and treatment was tough but I survived and I’d take that any day over an untested, unproven miracle cure.
@keano: wishing you the best of health.
If anyone believe climate change is a problem AI is a bigger problem .
This adds a whole new level to the term “Googling yourself”.
Autobots roll out
Terminator 3
@Vote4Pedro: I don’t remember Arnie giving a breast diagnosis in that one, maybe you are thinking of when the TX inflated herself for the cops.
I find it terrifying that a device MADE by humans is doing better than us in a lot of things. Very dangerous
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