Radiology is one branch of medicine pioneered by digital data in healthcare. Through advancements in technology, patients get instantaneous results in their laboratory tests, helping them quickly learn more about their health conditions—if there are any.
One of the technological advancements boosting radiology is artificial intelligence (AI). It is not a relative discovery but an improvement from past attempts in using intelligence transferred to machines to help them learn many things at once. But overall, how does artificial intelligence contribute to radiology? Here are some examples.
1. Supports Clinical Decision-Making
The advancements in AI technology led to computer-aided detection (CAD), where the computer detects abnormalities in body images. It then suggests to the physician whether to keep the pictures or look for further examinations.
CAD automates the daily processes in radiology. It frees the radiologist from examining every image, allowing them to focus on the most critical ones. Aside from screening the photos, these radiology systems can detect important information and make appropriate referrals to other specialists, such as oncologists. These features reduce the amount of time it takes to make a diagnosis.
2. Accelerates Patient Diagnosis
Through AI, researchers developed algorithms that detect and analyse any abnormalities in the body more accurately. If the radiologist is not an expert in interpreting the images, they can use these algorithms to see any unusual findings in the photos.
Although these algorithms can offer quick results, radiologists still need to study the trends of the deviations in the body carefully. They need to interpret these results and create a treatment plan for the patient. AI can accelerate these processes, but it does not replace the need for a human radiologist.
3. Produces Accurate Results
Artificial intelligence-powered radiologists have been trained to detect abnormalities in the human body. The trained algorithms can accurately detect any abnormalities present in the body and make appropriate referrals. In the past, many radiologists had to look at the images twice to find the abnormalities. But with artificial intelligence, this process is more accurate and efficient.
4. Helps Prioritise Urgent Cases
Radiology robots can also help in prioritising urgent cases. It is essential in critical matters such as trauma, stroke, and cardiac arrest, where patients require immediate medical attention. These acute cases usually require close attention and complex medical procedures to resolve the issue. Radiology robots can detect these cases and prioritise them for radiologists.
5. Increases Overall Productivity
Artificial intelligence in radiology offers many other benefits aside from detecting abnormalities in the body. It serves as an aid to many radiology professionals while performing their tasks. It can also help the radiologist stay focused on other essential duties. The advancements in radiology coupled with the use of AI technologies can help improve the overall productivity in healthcare and cut down the waiting time for patients.
Conclusion
Artificial intelligence in radiology makes it possible for radiologists to focus on more complex cases that take up a significant amount of time. It also frees them from repetitive tasks, allowing them to concentrate on more critical issues. One more benefit of using AI technology is the accurate detection of abnormalities in the body and the production of an effective treatment plan to address the problems.
Though these benefits are still in their early stages, there is a promising future for AI in radiology. Artificial intelligence systems help radiologists identify and treat diseases in their early stages, thus improving their overall health and making the process more efficient. Through the effective use of AI technology, radiology can significantly improve in the future.
ImageBiopsy Lab is an AI healthcare company that provides AI-driven software applications to digitise musculoskeletal diagnostics on radiographs. Our goal is to give quantitative, quick, and standardised reports to help radiologists working in laboratories. We hope to provide accurate and fast analysis of the human body through AI in radiology every time. Get a demo through our website today.