AI systems detect early signs of breast cancer years before clinical diagnosis

A new retrospective study published in the journal Radiology, involving Greek scientists, indicates that artificial intelligence can identify early warning signs of breast cancer up to six years, and in some cases up to a decade, before a formal diagnosis. Researchers evaluated three commercially available AI systems using data from nearly 89,000 mammograms performed on 31,394 women in Sweden between January 2008 and April 2019.

During the ten-year study period, 12,072 women—approximately 38.5% of the participant group—were diagnosed with breast cancer by traditional radiologists. The study utilized data from the 'Validation of Artificial Intelligence for Breast Imaging' database, which collects information from volunteers across four Swedish regions. The findings suggest that AI technology could significantly enhance current screening protocols, potentially allowing for life-saving earlier interventions for women currently participating in national health programs, which typically serve those aged 40 to 74.