Here at Ezra, we’ve paired the latest in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and MRI technology to scan for prostate cancer; our method is can detect over 90% of prostate cancers, compared to the industry standard PSA blood testing method, which is only about 21% accurate in predicting malignancy. And we’re far from the only group using AI technology to help bring the world of medicine to new heights, saving lives as we go along. From England to Boston, AI is being used to orchestrate all sorts of feats that would have been described as nothing short of medical miracles up until just a few years ago.
In England’s Moorfields Eye Hospital, a collaboration with Alphabet’s DeepMind has enabled AI to evaluate 3D scans of the backs of patient’s eyes. This system was created to help deal with a major problem in ophthalmology today: the time it takes for healthcare professionals to read these scans coupled with the sheer volume of scans they need to review is almost insurmountable. And during this time, patients can develop an abrupt issue in need of emergency treatment. What’s incredible is that the AI the team developed can correctly propose treatment for more than 50 “sight threatening eye diseases as accurately as world-leading expert doctors.” Though these results represent very early findings, they’re promising; clinical trials will hopefully begin soon.
Meanwhile, Professor Regina Barzilay at MIT is working on training computers to analyze mammograms as accurately as living, breathing doctors. In 2014, Barzilay was diagnosed with breast cancer; this shocking revelation led her to rethink her career, which previously revolved around researching using machine learning to interpret obscure ancient texts. Barizlay began to collaborate with Harvard radiologist and chief of breast imaging at Mass General Connie Lehman; the two worked together to develop a “deep-learning algorithm” that can analyze mammograms. Beyond simply reading mammograms, Barzilay and Lehman are searching for algorithms that can take on assignments humans aren’t able to perform well–or even at all. For instance, they’re working on one that can look at a high-risk area on a mammogram and instruct whether or not a biopsy will be needed.
Learn more about how Ezra is reinventing the prostate cancer screening standard of care by visiting https://ezra.com/full-body/.
