Harnessing AI to catch lung cancer earlier

Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer deaths, in part because early-stage disease is often missed until symptoms appear. Lung cancer screening with low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) -- a relatively new recommendation for screening compared to other cancers -- is helping more people to have their cancers found sooner. But what if cutting-edge technology could help clinicians spot trouble even earlier?

A new retrospective study published in BMJ Open Respiratory Research explores exactly that: how combining artificial intelligence (AI) tools with routine CT imaging can improve early lung cancer detection and follow-up. NCC board member and lung cancer screening champion, Dr. Vishisht Mehta is a co-author in the study. He is also Director of Interventional Pulmonology at the Lung Center of Nevada, a division of Comprehensive Cancer Centers of Nevada.

In this study, researchers analyzed real-world patient data from an academic medical center to compare standard clinical practice with a hypothetical AI-assisted workflow for identifying and tracking incidental lung nodules — small spots on CT scans that can sometimes indicate early cancer. The results were striking: guideline-concordant follow-up rates for detected nodules increased dramatically when AI tools were employed, and the median time to diagnose non–small cell lung cancer dropped from more than four months to under a month.

The findings suggest that integrating AI into diagnostic pathways could boost adherence to follow-up recommendations and accelerate diagnosis, potentially improving outcomes for patients at risk of lung cancer. For clinicians, researchers and health system leaders, this study adds to growing evidence that artificial intelligence can move the needle from reactive to proactive care.

🔗 Read the full paper: https://bmjopenrespres.bmj.com/content/12/1/e003225

This article created with the assistance of AI and edited by NCC staff. This is for informational purposes only. For medical advice or diagnosis, consult a professional.