Could AI soon diagnose cancer? New system that 'doctors can rely on' is 93% accurate in identifying tumours

  • US firm IBM says its Watson system is capable of accurately identify tumours
  • The computer crunches through medical images and patient records quickly
  • It compares them to past cases and medical journals to come to a conclusion 
  • Doctors at 55 hospitals around the world have been using the AI to help them

Cancer patients could soon have their disease diagnosed by artificial intelligence, following the results of a series of trials in hospitals around the world.

IBM, the US computer firm, has revealed that its Watson artificial intelligence system is capable of accurately identifying tumours in up to 93 per cent of cases following tests on real cases.

The computer can examine medical images and patient records, comparing them to thousands of past cases and medical journals to come to a conclusion.

Doctors at 55 hospitals around the world have been using the system to help them diagnose patients for breast, lung, colorectal, cervical, ovarian, gastric and prostate cancers.

IBM claims the technology will be extended to detect a further five cancer types by the end of the year and will be rolled out to other hospitals worldwide.

IBM, the US firm, has revealed that its Watson artificial intelligence system is capable of accurately identifying tumours in up to 93 per cent of cases following tests on real cases

IBM, the US firm, has revealed that its Watson artificial intelligence system is capable of accurately identifying tumours in up to 93 per cent of cases following tests on real cases

It is hoped the system will be able to reduce the amount of time it takes to screen patients and help improve the accuracy of diagnosis.

Not intended to replace doctors 

Dr Andrew Norden, deputy chief health officer for oncology and genomics at IBM Watson Health, said the AI system is not intended to replace doctors.

Instead by being able to assess large numbers of images, doctors' notes and patient records quickly, it can help doctors and surgeons make better decisions by offering a second opinion.

He said: 'Watson technologies are helping physicians augment their own experience and expertise to deliver evidence-based care.

'As adoption of the technology grows globally, we are building on a growing body of data and evidence showing the value of Watson in cancer care.'

Trained by oncologists

Watson for Oncology is trained by oncologists at New York's Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center using patient data.

Watson is able to use its natural language processing abilities to learn how to recognise patterns that indicate whether a tumour is present.

It can also draw on guidelines and medical literature to produce a diagnosis. 

HOW DOES IT WORK? 

The Watson artificial intelligence system, developed by US firm IBM, examines medical images and patient records.

These are then compared to thousands of past cases and medicals journals to come to a conclusion.

Doctors at 55 hospitals around the world have been using the system to help them diagnose patients for breast, lung, colorectal, cervical, ovarian, gastric and prostate cancers.

IBM claims the technology will be extended to detect a further five cancer types by the end of the year and will be rolled out to other hospitals worldwide.

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The results from a series of trials of the Watson AI system were presented this week at the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, in Chicago, Illinois.

As accurate as experts 

These include a study at a hospital in Bangalore, India, that showed Watson was able to produce a diagnosis for lung cancer was the same as that agreed by a multidisciplinary board of tumour experts in 96 per cent of cases.

It also achieved agreement rates of 81 per cent for colon cancer and 93 per cent for rectal cancer cases.

Similar tests at Bumrungrad International Hospital in Bangkok, Thailand, found the system agreed with a board of experts in 83 per cent of cancer cases.

Crunches through data 

Nan Chen, senior director of research and development at Bumrungrad International Hospital, said the system's power was its ability to crunch through vast amounts of data quickly.

He said: 'Watson for Oncology is one example of the key technologies that will help clinicians harness the increasing amounts of data that is becoming available as both medicine and treatment become more personalized for each individual patient.'

IBM's AI system is also being used at the UB Songdo Hospital in Ulan Bator, Mongolia, where general doctors often have to care for cancer patients without specialists.

'Doctors can rely on Watson' 

The computer can examine medical images and patient records, comparing them to thousands of past cancer cases and medical journals to come to a conclusion

The computer can examine medical images and patient records, comparing them to thousands of past cancer cases and medical journals to come to a conclusion

Dr Chen said: 'These doctors can now confidently rely on Watson for Oncology for helping them select treatment options that are supported by the high concordance rates observed.'

The system was also found to achieve 73 per cent accuracy in trials on colon cancer at Gachon University Gil Medical Centre in Incheon, South Korea.

Another study in Mexico saw doctors using the AI system to help them identify potential treatment options for patients.

Drug company Novartis and the Highlands Oncology Group in Arkansas used the computer to screen lung and breast cancer patients for their suitability in a clinical trial, cutting down assessment time from one hour 50 minutes to 24 minutes.

IBM said Watson for Oncology is currently being used in India, China, Thailand, South Korea, Taiwan, Japan, Bangladesh, Spain, Slovakia, Poland, Mexico, Brazil, Australia, Canada and the US.

It is due to extend it to hospitals in Australia, Taiwan, Nepal and Bhutan. It is not clear when it may arrive in British hospitals. 

WHAT CAN'T WATSON DO?

Watson already has won a major TV game show, is looking for a cure for cancer and has ambitious gastronomy ambitions including devising a recipe for chocolate-beef burritos.

The IBM supercomputer is becoming a jack of all trades for the US tech giant -- including in its new role as a business consultant and analyst for various industries by using massive Internet databases.

IBM has developed a Watson Engagement Advisor application to counsel members of the military and their families how to smartly manage shifting to life after the service.

In the oil and gas sector, IBM has worked with the British tech group Arria to integrate Watson's capabilities to help improve management of leaks in refineries.

Watson has teamed with Elemental Path, maker of 'smart toys,' such as a dinosaur that can tell stories and answer questions from children.

The computer has in its memory thousands of recipes from 'Bon Appetit' magazine, and it also knows the chemical properties of foods.

If Watson suggests marrying strawberries with mushrooms, it's because the two foods share a chemical bond. 

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