Health Care & Medical

Artificial Intelligence a boon to Cancer diagnosis

Artificial Intelligence empowers a machine to act and think like a human. It helps mimic human intelligence behavior. It helps a computer to assist in robotic surgeries and clinical diagnosis. Artificial Intelligence uses mathematical algorithms to impersonate human cognitive abilities. 

Artificial Intelligence has helped solve many complex biological complications and abnormalities like cancer. AI processes vast amounts of data in a short time where the human mind is limited.

Artificial Intelligence enabled computer systems are extensively in use in medical sciences. Applications of artificially intelligent systems are the diagnosis and prognosis for patients, drug discovery, development, remote treatment, early detection of diseases, and transcribing medical documents.

Artificial Intelligence enabled machines are assisting doctors to understand and diagnose cancer at an early stage. 

Early-stage detection helps patients receive treatment on time and increases their life span. AI helps monitor the effects of treatment.

AI helps store a large amount of healthcare data and retrieve it whenever the patient and the doctor require it.

Artificial Intelligence has paved its way in drug discovery. AI uses complex algorithms to predict drug interaction with an animal model successfully. AI has proven to be of great help in the field of oncology.

Oncology is the study of cancer. Oncologists are doctors that deal with the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. Artificial Intelligence has been of great help in the diagnosis of lung cancer. 

Lung cancer begins in the lungs and can spread to other body parts.

Cancer from other organs can also spread in the lungs. Breast cancer can escalate into the lungs, but it will still be called breast cancer because of its origin. Cancer that spreads from one organ to another is known as metastases.

Types of Lung Cancer

Small cells and non-small cells are the two types of lung cancer. Non-small cells lung cancer is a more common type of lung cancer. There are subtypes of non-small cells lung cancer. Adenocarcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and large cell carcinoma are the three subtypes of non-small cells lung cancer (NSCLC).

80% to 85% are NSCLC, whereas 10% to 5% are SCLC(Small cell lung cancer)

Risk factors of lung cancer are:

  • Smoking
  • Exposure to second-hand smoke
  • Exposure to radon gas
  • Genetic history of lung cancer
  • Previous radiation therapy
  • Exposure to asbestos and other carcinogens such as arsenic.

Symptoms of Lung cancer

  • Wheezing
  • Shortness of breath
  • Weight loss with unknown cause
  • Chest pain
  • Tiredness all time
  • Coughing blood

Diagnosis of lung cancer

Doctors perform some Initial tests for abnormal symptoms. These tests include Chest X-Ray, Blood tests, Lungs function tests (spirometry), and CT scans. If an X-Ray or CT scan detects a tumor, then further tests are carried out.

Biopsy

A biopsy is a way to confirm whether the tumor is cancerous or not. Biopsy of the lung is to detect lung cancer. 

A tissue sample is taken from the site to perform further tests in a pathology lab.

Some ways to collect tissue samples are:

  • Bronchoscopy 
  • Endobronchial ultrasound
  • Mediastinoscopy
  • Thoracoscopy
  • Mediastinoscopy
  • Biopsy of lymph nodes
  • Molecular testing for genetic changes and protein 
  • PET-CT scan

Artificial Intelligence has contributed to the advancements of bronchoscopy. Navigational bronchoscopy uses AI real-time navigation and accurate tool guidance during a biopsy for optimal sampling. Navigational bronchoscopy has higher diagnostic yields. 

It can detect even tiny lesions and access the most distant regions.

Body vision medical has designed one such system for advanced navigational bronchoscopy.

The Body Vision System is a real-time intraoperative CT imaging platform. It has three main parts,

  • The Main Unit
  • Tablet
  • Procedural Kit

The main unit

It uses powerful AI technology. It is compact and portable. 

It does not have electromagnetic sensors. Hence there is zero electromagnetic interference. It supports the entire navigation process.

Tablet

It provides total control of the Body Vision system from any location in the room wirelessly. Control includes planning and procedure management.

Procedural kit

It provides exceptional access and superior maneuverability for those looking to use Body Vision as an end-to-end solution for navigational bronchoscopy

It is also compatible with most bronchoscopes, even the latest robotic bronchoscope. 

The Body Vision system provides an early and accurate diagnosis of lung cancer. 

Body Vision produces real-time, intraoperative CT imaging using any conventional C-Arm. This enables accurate navigation to the actual lesion location and visual confirmation of tool-in-lesion so that you can biopsy with absolute confidence.

Thousands of lung cancer patients have benefited from Body Vision’s intraoperative CT imaging.