Hospitals in Greater Manchester have introduced AI prostate cancer detection, to help diagnose faster.
The tool, which analyses MRI scans is being used to help doctors identify men who need urgent treatment first and is part of a pilot led by Greater Manchester Cancer Alliance.
“This tool supports our radiologists by highlighting the scans most likely to show prostate cancer, helping us identify and rule out the disease more quickly,” explained Dr Rhidian Bramley, a consultant radiologist and Clinical Lead for AI at Greater Manchester Cancer Alliance.
“By prioritising the most suspicious cases first, we can diagnose men sooner and ensure those who need treatment most urgently are seen without delay.
“We hope this pilot will show how AI, used in the right way, can deliver real improvements in patient care and experience.”
Prostate cancer affects 1 in 8 men and is the most common cancer in men in the UK. While early detection dramatically improves outcomes, around half of prostate cancers are still diagnosed at a late stage after the disease has already spread.
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What happens is that men with suspected symptoms or raised PSA blood test results are usually referred for an MRI scan to rule out cancer or determine whether further investigation is needed. The new AI system aims to speed up this process and improve accuracy.
“This is an exciting development for patients and clinicians. This technology has the potential to improve detection of early-stage prostate cancers,” added Mr Jeremy Oates, a prostate cancer surgeon and Clinical Lead for Prostate Cancer at Greater Manchester Cancer Alliance.
“As part of the wider programme a service evaluation will be undertaken to demonstrate the impact on diagnosis.”
It will use Lucida Medical’s Prostate Intelligence (Pi™) technology. Other pilots are also taking place in Yorkshire, East England and the South West.
“It is exciting to see Prostate Intelligence (Pi™) going into clinical use across Greater Manchester. We are looking forward to working together with the Trusts and Cancer Alliance to help men with suspected prostate cancer receive a faster and more accurate diagnosis,” added Dr Antony Rix, CEO and Co-founder of Lucida Medical.
Phil Ormesher, Chair and Trustee Prostate Cancer Support added:
“For men worried they may have prostate cancer, waiting for test results can be one of the most anxious times. Any innovation that helps identify those most at risk more quickly and reduces delays to diagnosis is a positive step.
“It’s encouraging to see Greater Manchester piloting technology that supports clinicians to prioritise the men who need urgent attention, while maintaining expert clinical oversight. Used responsibly, AI has the potential to improve both the speed and consistency of diagnosis.
“We look forward to seeing the results of this pilot and hope it will help more men receive an earlier diagnosis, when prostate cancer is often much more treatable, while also giving patients confidence that new technologies are being introduced safely and alongside specialist expertise.”
