New artificial intelligence scheme improves cervical cancer screening

A pilot scheme using advanced imaging together with artificial intelligence to help diagnose cervical cancer is being trialled in Scotland.

 

University Hospital Monklands in Airdrie said it has become the first hospital in the UK to pilot the technology, which creates digital images of cervical smear slides from samples with Human Papilloma Virus (HPV).

 

Health experts say it could help earlier detection of pre-cancerous cells and cancer cells.

 

Over 3,000 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer each year in the UK.

 

The lab at the hospital receives 3,500 cervical screening samples from across Scotland every week and is one of the first in the world to pilot the technology as part of its cervical screening programme.

 

The technology uses a digital cytology system to create digital images of cervical smear slides from samples that have tested positive for HPV, which accounts for over 95 per cent of cervical cancers.   The images can be quickly reviewed using an advanced algorithm which assesses the cells in the sample and provides the screener with an image gallery of the most diagnostically-relevant cells.

 

Pilot lead Allan Wilson, consultant biomedical scientist, said “Looking for abnormal cells is like trying to find a needle in a haystack because in some cases there are only around 50 abnormal cervical cells in a sample that may contain 15,000 normal cells.

 

“This pilot has shown how digital cytology can revolutionise our analysis process in our cervical screening programme.”

 

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Posted by Tony May, Partner/head of Clinical Negligence Department, Chadwick Lawrence LLP (tonymay@chadlaw.co.uk ), medical negligence lawyers and clinical negligence solicitors in Huddersfield, Leeds, Wakefield and Halifax, West Yorkshire.

 

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