The good news
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Median Technologies’ eyonisTM Lung Cancer Screening (LCS), a medical device used for the combined detection and diagnosis of lung cancer.
Why it’s important
EyonisTM LCS is an AI-based technology designed to support the earlier detection of lung cancer by helping clinicians identify and characterize pulmonary (lung) nodules on low-dose CT scans. The RELIVE study involved 480 high-risk patients and showed that this technology improved radiologists’ ability to detect and evaluate lung nodules. A previous trial, the REALITY study, demonstrated eyonisTM LCS’s ability to accurately tell the difference between cancerous and non-cancerous lung nodules. These studies were conducted using existing patient information from major cancer centers in the US and Europe. This is important because applying this technology to low-dose CT screening has the potential to improve the early detection of lung cancer.
What it means for patients
The ability to improve the detection of lung cancer at an earlier stage through LCS can only result in an increase in survival. The ability to accurately determine whether a lung nodule is cancerous can reduce the need for additional testing and other procedures such as biopsies. This technology has the potential to be used worldwide and could result in reduced health care costs. It is important to remember the use of AI in screening does not eliminate the need for the “human” factor but aids radiologists in making earlier and more accurate diagnoses.
What to look for
This development is just the beginning of an AI revolution in healthcare. Expect to see more use of AI in radiology, pathology and other aspects of healthcare management.