A Deep Learning Tool for Faster, Better Heart Disease Diagnoses

A new deep learning tool could help slash the time it takes to interpret cardiology scans to diagnose obstructive coronary artery disease by 75 percent. The study, featured in the European Journal of Radiology, describes how this new technology, powered by artificial intelligence (AI) can not only accelerate processing times but also assist radiologists in identifying potential problem areas in the patients' major arteries. In obstructive coronary arterial disease, the blood vessels that supply the heart gradually narrow, and in severe classes, can even close completely. This happens as a result of the accumulation of plaque in a process called atherosclerosis. Checking for obstructions and blockages in coronary scans can be challenging--radiologists require specialized training and extensive experience in order to be able to interpret these scans correctly.