The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into the care of breast and gynecological cancers, including endometrial cancer, may significantly enhance screening and management, according to a study recently published in The Lancet Digital Health.
The recent ascendancy of AI has led to hopes that it can drastically alter the medical landscape for the better. Large datasets can be fed into AI, leading to a capacity for risk stratification and decision-making that can enhance care.
For example, in breast cancer the application of AI in mammography has the potential to substantially improve cancer screening. Studies suggest that AI can perform at least as well as radiographers. Furthermore, AI can help in cancer staging based on imaging data, potentially replacing the need for invasive procedures. The same functions of AI in breast cancer can largely be applied to gynecological cancers.
The driving force behind AI capabilities in medicine is its ability to synthesize and analyze large quantities of relevant data. This may lead to the creation of algorithms for early disease detection, the analyzing of relevant biomarkers and predicting prognosis. In endometrial cancer, the analyzing of tumor histology and disease extent can have a profound effect on treatment decision-making.
Read more about endometrial cancer signs and symptoms
When surgery is an option, clinicians have to weigh potential benefits against possible risks, which can oftentimes be challenging at the preoperative stage. AI-derived algorithms, however, can be of significant aid to clinicians during this decision-making process, refining the selection of candidates for surgical intervention. In patients in whom surgery may not be the ideal option, AI can recommend evidence-based alternatives that prolong survival and improve quality of life.
Furthermore, AI can help clinicians with the vital role of post-treatment surveillance. The use of digital platforms that integrate patient outcomes with electronic data may be utilized to detect recurrence and personalize care.
“Trust in AI tools should be built among both the public and health-care communities to enable successful and widespread adoption,” the study’s authors wrote. “Although there is generally a positive attitude among healthcare professionals and the public towards the use of AI tools, there is also an emphasis on keeping the general public informed.”
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