AI Tool Detects Up to One-Third of Missed Interval Breast Cancers
July 29, 2025
A commercial AI system can identify up to 33% of interval breast cancers missed by radiologists on digital breast tomosynthesis exams.
Key Details
- Study published in Radiology tested AI on digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) exams preceding confirmed interval cancer diagnoses.
- The AI algorithm (Lunit INSIGHT DBT v1.1) flagged up to one-third of interval cancers missed by radiologists.
- Interval breast cancers are often more aggressive and have worse prognoses than screen-detected cancers.
- Nearly 12 years of retrospective DBT data (Feb 2011–Jun 2023) were analyzed.
- Algorithm scored lesions; those over 10 marked as positive, and radiologist review correlated AI findings with actual cancer sites.
Why It Matters
Interval cancers are frequently aggressive and linked with higher morbidity and mortality due to later detection. AI's ability to identify a significant portion of these previously missed cancers suggests potential for earlier intervention and improved patient outcomes in breast imaging.