AI effective at detecting advanced breast cancer, but misses some cases


A study published in Radiology evaluated the performance and false-negative rate (FNR) of AI models used for screening mammograms. The research confirmed that while AI is effective in detecting many invasive breast cancers, it is still prone to missing certain cases.

The study found that AI missed 14% of cancers, with the highest FNR occurring in Hormone Receptor (HR)-positive cancers. The specific cancer characteristics that AI was more likely to miss included smaller size, lower grade, and location in dense breast tissue or outside typical mammary zones. The cancers missed by AI were often also the subtle findings missed by human radiologists.

The findings suggest that relying solely on AI could lead to overlooked, clinically significant cancers. The conclusion supports the consensus that AI should be used as a "second reader" to augment and not replace radiologists, requiring clinicians to remain vigilant in areas where AI is known to underperform.

Read the original article at https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-09-ai-effective-advanced-breast-cancer.html
 

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