AI tool PANDA, developed by Alibaba, is revolutionizing pancreatic cancer detection by analyzing non-contrast CT scans that even skilled radiologists may miss. Pancreatic cancer has a dire five-year survival rate of about 10%, primarily due to early detection challenges. PANDA trains AI using contrast-enhanced CT images annotated by radiologists, enabling it to identify cancerous lesions in low-detail scans. A clinical trial at Ningbo University Hospital has revealed PANDA’s ability to flag approximately two dozen cancer cases, including 14 in early stages, prompting further investigation of patients initially seeking help for unrelated symptoms. The FDA has expedited PANDA’s approval, granting it “Breakthrough Device” status. However, the system’s alerts have raised concerns, as many patients faced unnecessary follow-ups due to false positives. Despite skepticism from some medical experts regarding its efficacy, PANDA holds promise as a crucial tool for enhancing cancer detection, especially in facilities with fewer specialists.
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