An artificial intelligence model developed by researchers at the University of Leicester in the United Kingdom has demonstrated the ability to forecast complications in breast cancer treatment with 73% accuracy, according to reports from The Guardian.
Common long-term effects of radiation therapy for breast cancer include scarring, swelling of the arm called lymphedema, and potential heart damage. Radiation therapy uses a specific form of energy, either electromagnetic radiation or particle beams, to destroy tumor cells or halt their growth and division.
Surgical procedures to remove breast tumors carry their own set of risks.
Researchers introduced a new artificial intelligence tool that estimates the probability of adverse outcomes from radiation and surgery by analyzing X-ray scans of patients’ breast tissue. The algorithm was trained on mammogram images from more than 6,000 women. Tests showed that the AI model could predict the likelihood of complications with 73% accuracy.
The advancement may help clinicians select the most appropriate breast cancer treatment options more rapidly and efficiently, while aiming to minimize harm to patients’ health, stated the study authors and experts from Breast Cancer Now, a leading breast cancer charity.