New York– University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center (UH) has launched an innovative collaboration with global healthcare AI company Qure.ai to enhance early lung cancer detection through artificial intelligence. The partnership aims to improve the identification of small pulmonary nodules using AI-enhanced chest X-ray analysis.
The FDA-approved AI tool, qXR-LN, will serve as a second read alongside radiologists’ assessments of chest X-rays. This technology is expected to flag suspicious lung nodules, potentially leading to earlier diagnoses and contributing to further AI research in medical imaging.
Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States. Current guidelines recommend low-dose CT (LDCT) scans for high-risk individuals, including smokers and former smokers. However, despite the benefits, screening rates remain low, with only about 16% of eligible individuals undergoing screening, according to Dr. Amit Gupta, Division Chief of Cardiothoracic Imaging and Modality Director of Diagnostic Radiography at UH.
Dr. Gupta highlights the potential of using AI to detect lung nodules incidentally in patients who undergo chest X-rays for other medical reasons. “Identifying early-stage lung nodules on X-rays is challenging, and these subtle findings are often overlooked,” he said. “AI serves as an additional set of eyes, enhancing detection and potentially improving patient outcomes.”
To further investigate the effectiveness of qXR-LN, UH is conducting a clinical trial comparing the AI tool’s ability to detect pulmonary nodules against traditional radiologist interpretations. The study will assess the impact of AI in determining how many patients require follow-up CT scans, biopsies, and the number of lung cancer cases diagnosed at earlier stages.
“Chest X-ray AI presents a valuable opportunity to identify suspected malignant pulmonary nodules between 6 to 30mm in size, increasing the chances of early diagnosis and treatment,” said Dr. Samir Shah, Chief Medical Officer at Qure.ai. “We are excited to collaborate with University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center to explore how AI can enhance lung cancer surveillance and patient care.”
As UH pioneers AI-driven advancements in medical imaging, this collaboration holds promise for improving lung cancer detection rates and transforming early diagnosis strategies.
