Improvement in early cancer diagnosis has been highlighted in many national policies. Breast cancer is the most common cancer in the UK, accounting for 15% of all new cancer cases. Mammography is generally the gold standard for detecting breast cancer.  Current challenges include variations in diagnostic accuracy, delayed diagnosis, inefficient resources allocation, severe workforce shortages and inadequate facilities. There is a significant unmet clinical and system need. AI is being integrated into diagnostic procedures to find breast cancer in its earliest stages. In the NHS, every mammogram is double-checked by radiologists, typically with the second opinion blind to the first. AI technology is proposed as a way of improving workforce shortages and enhancing cancer detection, as a second reader in mammography. It may also improve breast cancer care in low-resourced or rural areas, where patients often lack easy access to specialists and experts, by enabling remote interpretation of imaging.
 
Status Awaiting development
Technology type Device
Decision Selected
Reason for decision Anticipate the topic will be of importance to patients, carers, professionals, commissioners and the health of the public to ensure clinical benefit is realised, inequalities in use addressed, and help them make the best use of NHS resources

Timeline

Key events during the development of the guidance:

Date Update
19 November 2024 Awaiting development. Status change linked to Topic Selection Decision being set to Selected