'A second set of eyes': AI-supported breast cancer screening spots more cancers earlier, landmark trial finds

The landmark Mammography Screening with Artificial Intelligence (MASAI) trial in Sweden, published in The Lancet, demonstrated that using an AI system to support mammography reading improves screening performance and reduces the workload for radiologists. This is the first time AI has been shown to improve patient outcomes in breast cancer screening. The AI-supported screening identified more clinically relevant cancers and reduced the diagnosis of aggressive "interval cancers"—those missed in initial screenings—by highlighting suspicious findings for human review. Crucially, the AI assistance did not increase the rate of false positives or overdiagnosis. Researchers suggest AI can serve as a "second set of eyes" to address the shortage of radiologists and maintain performance consistency. The team plans to use this AI support in Ethiopia to improve early breast cancer diagnosis in resource-limited settings via bedside ultrasounds.

(Source：Live Science)