AI Revolutionizes Prostate Cancer Detection in Routine CT Scans
An innovative AI program developed at RMIT University in Melbourne is poised to revolutionize prostate cancer detection. This technology could catch the disease earlier in asymptomatic patients undergoing routine CT scans for other reasons.
Prostate cancer is a leading cause of death by cancer in Australian men, with 12% of male cancer deaths attributed to it in 2020. Early detection is crucial for successful treatment, but men often delay diagnosis tests. The AI checker could change this by analyzing CT scans for tell-tale signs of prostate cancer, even spotting small irregularities that trained human eyes might miss.
The AI program, developed for incidental detection during routine scans, has shown promising results. It outperformed radiologists in detecting cancerous growths, even improving its performance with each scan. The AI detector can adapt to read images from different machines, potentially integrating with various diagnostic imaging equipment like MRI and DEXA machines, given further research.
This AI technology could significantly impact prostate cancer diagnosis and treatment. By enabling early intervention, it could lead to better health outcomes for many Australian men. Further research and integration with different imaging equipment are the next steps towards wider application.
