AI Outperforms Doctors in Cervical Cancer Detection

Recently, a new study revealed that a computer algorithm was not only able to accurately analyze digital images drawn from cervical screenings but also detect precancerous changes that required more medical follow-up. The new technique dubbed automated visual evaluation boasts the ability to transform point-of-care cervical screening. "Our findings show that a deep learning algorithm can use images collected during routine cervical cancer screening to identify precancerous changes that, if left untreated, may develop into cancer," Mark Schiffman, MD, MPH, of the National Cancer Institute's Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, and senior author of the study said in a press release. "In fact, the computer analysis of the images was better at identifying precancer than a human expert reviewer of Pap tests under the microscope (cytology)." SEE MORE: UK's National Health Service Trialing AI Software for Diagnosing Cancer The release also showed that the artificial intelligence-based approach is easy to perform.