AI Improves Breast Cancer Detection in Largest Real-World Study

A German study involving nearly 500,000 screenings shows AI-assisted radiologists detect 17.6% more cancer cases without increasing false positives.

The study, conducted across 12 screening sites in Germany, involved 461,818 women aged 50-69 and spanned from July 2021 to February 2023.
Radiologists using AI detected 6.7 breast cancer cases per 1,000 screenings, compared to 5.7 cases per 1,000 without AI—a 17.6% improvement.
AI flagged suspicious cases missed by radiologists, serving as a 'safety net' and highlighting areas for further review.
The use of AI did not increase false positives, maintaining the same recall rate for further testing while reducing radiologists' workload.
Experts emphasize the need for careful integration of AI into clinical workflows, with long-term follow-up studies to assess its impact on patient outcomes.