Artificial Intelligence in Breast Imaging: A Special Focus on Advances in Digital Mammography & Digital Breast Tomosynthesis

Abstract

Abstract: Breast cancer accounts for 30% of female cancers and is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in women. The rate is rising at 0.4% per year. Early detection is crucial to improve treatment efficacy and overall survival of women diagnosed with breast cancer. Digital Mammography and Digital Breast Tomosynthesis have widely demonstrated their role as a screening tool. However, screening mammography is limited by radiologist’s experience, unnecessarily high recalls, overdiagnosis, overtreatment and, in the case of Digital Breast Tomosynthesis, long reporting time. This is compounded by an increasing shortage of manpower and resources issue, especially among breast imaging specialists. Recent advances in image analysis with the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in breast imaging have the potential to overcome some of these needs and address the clinical challenges in cancer detection, assessment of treatment response, and monitoring disease progression. This article focuses on the most important clinical implication and future application of AI in the field of digital mammography and digital breast tomosynthesis, providing the readers with a comprehensive overview of AI impact in cancer detection, diagnosis, reduction of workload and breast cancer risk stratification.