Projeto IA
Using Artificial Intelligence in the Early Diagnosis of Breast Cancer.
One of the biggest challenges in the fight against breast cancer is early diagnosis. The technology Artificial Intelligence has been tested for various purposes in cancer diagnosis and has already demonstrated its ability to detect cancer earlier in mammograms, enabling a differentiated screening program that can anticipate diagnoses and increase survival rates, reduce treatment costs, and give more patients access to treatment.
In December 2020, Protea launched the Projeto Inteligência Artificial, with funding from Fundação Patrick McGovernand partnerships with several research institutions. The model was developed by M.I.T MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) and is based on Deep Learning. Using a digital mammogram, the algorithm can estimate the probability of a woman developing breast cancer within five years of the date of the exam. This model has been tested in several countries around the world, and in 2021, it was validated in the Brazilian population, having been tested on approximately 25,000 exams from patients in the Hospital de Amor Screening Program. The accuracy rate was around 80%.
In 2022, research on the clinical use of this Artificial Intelligence was implemented at Santa Marcelina Saúde, in Itaquera, São Paulo,a partner hospital of Protea since 2018. This research was submitted to and approved by the Hospital's Research Ethics Committee in accordance with medical research regulations in Brazil. Several steps taken in this research have brought benefits to the hospital and patients, even before its completion.
Starting in 2021, patients began to have their exams performed on a digital mammography machine donated by GE to the hospital, enabling all screening mammograms to be submitted to the Artificial Intelligence algorithm, forming the database necessary for analysis.
By December 2024, nearly 5,000 women who were asymptomatic for breast cancer had their exams submitted to the technology;
More than 700 patients with above-average risk began to be monitored and recalled for new exams;
More than 340 have already been reexamined and are being monitored by the Hospital team.
Also in 2023, Protea, together with Dhauz Consultoria, conducted a situational study of SUS, the personnel involved, and the population served was produced that data base that can be accessed through a Dashboard.
The use of new technologies associated with breast cancer screening programs can benefit a significant number of women, and early diagnosis is key to reducing mortality.