Machine learning identifies breast lesions likely to become cancer

A new study reveals that a machine learning tool can help to identify which breast lesions, already classified as "high-risk," are likely to become cancerous. The researchers behind the study believe that the technology could eliminate unnecessary surgeries. Breast lesions are classified as high-risk after a biopsy reveals they have a higher chance of developing into cancer. Surgical removal is typically the recommended treatment option for these lesions due to the increased risk, even though many of these lesions do not pose an immediate threat. With "less immediate" cases, surgery may be deemed unnecessary and follow up imaging or other treatments may be found to be the preferred course of action -- but only if there is a reliable way of differentiating between the lesions.