Artificial Intelligence (AI) has been implemented to enhance liver cancer treatment at an NHS hospital, marking a significant milestone in medical intervention.
At Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge, AI technology has been integrated into the thermal ablation process for liver cancer treatment. Radiology specialist Dr. Nadeem Shaida highlighted the improved accuracy and effectiveness that AI brings to the procedure.
Approximately 50% of the 75 liver cancer patients treated at Addenbrooke’s annually are deemed suitable for this treatment. Dr. Shaida shared that although ultrasound and CT scans were previously part of the treatment process, the introduction of AI has bolstered their confidence in the procedure.
“In the past, interpreting the images depended on the individual’s eye, which could vary among different practitioners,” Dr. Shaida explained.
“Now, with AI, we can immediately determine if we’ve removed enough tissue. If not, we can adjust our approach while the patient is still under anesthesia, instead of ending the session and potentially having to repeat the procedure after six weeks.”
Thermal ablation is a technique that involves inserting a needle or probe into small tumors to destroy them using heat. This method is gaining popularity as it is less invasive compared to conventional surgery.
The hospital detailed how the AI was fed data from thousands of past patients, enabling it to accurately delineate the tumor and the surrounding healthy tissue. This technology was recently utilized in the treatment of 76-year-old Charles Sykes at Addenbrooke’s.
Mr. Sykes described the procedure as seemingly simple and expressed his gratitude for the availability of AI, acknowledging its role in enhancing the likelihood of a successful outcome.
AI has already found applications in thermal ablation treatments for kidney and lung tumors across various European centers. Addenbrooke’s Hospital plans to closely monitor the impact and effectiveness of AI in liver cancer treatments going forward.
