AI reduces treatment time for cancer radiotherapy

A new form of AI technology that reduces the length of waiting time cancer patients face before starting radiotherapy is to be offered at cost price to all NHS trusts in England.

The technology helps doctors calculate where to direct the therapeutic radiation beams to destroy cancerous cells while sparing as many healthy ones as possible.

For each patient, doctors spend usually between 25 minutes and two hours working through around 100 scan cross-sections, outlining or “contouring” organs and bones.  Researchers say the AI system works two and a half times quicker.

For example, when treating the prostate gland, damage to the nearby bladder or rectum needs to be avoided, as this could leave patients with lifelong continence issues.

Dr Raj Jena, of Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge, who has been leading the work for treating patients with head, neck and prostate cancers, said “That can get so bad that a patient’s life becomes dominated by that.”

The government has been investing in AI projects across the UK, but this is the first NHS-developed AI program released as a medical-imaging device.  Researchers say it is around 90 per cent accurate, with clinicians approving its work without any corrections about two-thirds of the time.

Dr Jena went on to say “Our consultant colleagues preferred to start with the work of the AI then even the work of their consulting colleagues.”

Dr Katherine Halliday, president of the Royal College of Radiologists, said “We are very excited about the potential of AI in replacing some processes and procedures, including within diagnostics and cancer therapy.

“AI has the capability of speeding up the diagnostic process, helping doctors catch disease earlier and giving patients the best possible chance of recovery.”

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Posted by Karen Motley, Clinical Negligence Department, Chadwick Lawrence LLP (jacquelinevance@chadlaw.co.uk), medical negligence lawyers and clinical negligence solicitors in Huddersfield, Leeds, Wakefield and Halifax, West Yorkshire.

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