Reading a mammogram is a test in discerning overlapping shadows. Since cancer shows up on mammography images as white areas — just like glandular breast tissue — a radiologist’s challenge becomes teasing out what’s normal from what’s not.
But radiologists have a secret weapon: artificial intelligence (A.I.). For years, mammograms have incorporated a technology called computer-aided detection that can flag spots with abnormal cells the human eye sometimes misses. The newest forms of A.I. continue to refine these abilities in ways that may be benefiting countless women.
“Every once in a while, the computer will circle something we were on the fence about or didn’t notice, and it will change our approach,” says Dr. Pierre Sasson, chair of the Department of Radiology at Harvard-affiliated Mount Auburn Hospital. “A.I. also reinforces questionable findings we see that make us more confident when we call a patient back for additional testing. That happens every day.”