Industry News! In the U.S., pancreatic cancer is expected to be the second leading cause of cancer death by 2030.
Despite interventions caused by pancreatic cancer CT scans, managing this disease is difficult once the tumor has already grown. Unfortunately, pancreatic cancer has the distinction of having the lowest five-year survival rate among cancers.
Most medical professionals rely on CT scans to detect pancreatic cancer. However, this technology is 40% unreliable if the tumor is below two centimeters, since pancreatic cancer often lacks clear borders with the surrounding tissue.
Because of this, patients only become aware of their condition once cancer has begun to spread. As a result, they miss the opportunity to treat the tumor during its initial stages. That’s why researchers are finding ways to improve the efficiency of CT scans for pancreatic cancer.
If you’re looking for a CT scan provider for your hospital or medical facility, you can contact Catalina Imaging at (844) 949-1664. We’re a leading mobile CT scan company that offers Mobile Multi-Slice diagnostic imaging nationwide.
Recently, Taiwanese researchers have conducted a study that used deep learning (DL) to detect pancreatic cancer.
DL is a type of artificial intelligence (AI) that teaches computers to recognize data patterns using a model inspired by the human brain.
Previously, researchers demonstrated that DL could distinguish the pancreas with and without cancer. Yet, in that instance, the tool relied on human radiologists to identify the pancreas in the image.
In this new study, the AI identified the pancreas on its own. This is a breakthrough since the pancreas is a relatively small organ that varies in size and is surrounded by other organs and structures.
The study involved 546 pancreatic cancer patients and 733 control participants. During internal testing, the AI pancreatic cancer detection tool achieved 90% sensitivity and 96% specificity.
A validation study ensued with 1,473 participants. In this instance, the DL tool was rated 90% for sensitivity and 93% for specificity. Notably, the AI pancreatic cancer tool had a 75% sensitivity for tumors less than 2 centimeters big, a 15% improvement compared to CT’s sensitivity.
Senior research author Weichung Wang, Ph.D., said in a report:
“The performance of the deep learning tool seemed on par with that of radiologists. Specifically, in this study, the sensitivity of the deep learning computer-aided detection tool for pancreatic cancer was comparable with that of radiologists in a tertiary referral center regardless of tumor size and stage.”
Dr. Wang, a professor at the National Taiwan University and the director of the university’s MeDA Lab, explained that DL offers a lot of potential in assisting clinicians. DL can help radiologists to increase the accuracy of CT scan pancreatic cancer detection.
The Taiwan-based research team is planning further studies. They aim to use the AI pancreatic cancer detection tool in a more diverse setting.
When it comes to pancreatic cancer detection, CT scan is the best available technology in the market. AI will only make it more accurate, resulting in early tumor detection and better cancer management.
If you’re looking for a mobile CT scan provider, Catalina Imaging has got you covered. We offer high-quality mobile imaging solutions using state-of-the-art equipment from brands such as Siemens, GE, and Toshiba/Canon.
Catalina Imaging has the experience and expertise to address your facility’s long- and short-term needs. Call us at (844) 949-1664 or email us at info@catalinaimaging.com to learn more about our services.
