AI technology is introducing significant changes in the field of medical imaging, with further developments anticipated. This was the focal point of a plenary address delivered at the International Society of Magnetic Resonance in Medicine (ISMRM) annual meeting on May 4th.
Dr. Charlene Liew, the Director of Cardiothoracic Imaging at Changi General Hospital in Singapore, provided an overview of the current state of AI in radiology and its projected trajectory in a presentation titled “AI in Radiology: The Past Informs the Future.”
Dr. Liew highlighted the crucial role of the current radiology workforce in propelling medical innovation through advanced technologies for the betterment of patient outcomes. She also acknowledged the groundbreaking work of computer scientist Fei-Fei Li, PhD, who developed ImageNet, a dataset of 14 million annotated images that facilitated advancements in computer vision.
With the introduction of AI in the healthcare sector, particularly in medical imaging, it is evident that the influence of AI extends to all phases of the radiology workflow. From patient and scan preparation to image interpretation and result reporting, AI has revolutionized the field. For instance, it can detect poor image quality on x-rays, automate CT imaging protocols, and streamline MRI workflows for faster scan times and image reconstruction.
Dr. Liew emphasized that AI represents a new era in healthcare, characterized by the automation of tasks typically performed by radiologists and radiographers. She highlighted that AI systems are significantly enhancing medical care delivery by providing unprecedented speed and accuracy in diagnosis.
Looking ahead, AI is expected to further enhance preclinical radiology workflow by automating measurements, creating heatmaps to detect abnormalities on imaging, and providing critical insights for prognosis, patient outcome predictions, and diagnosis. However, Dr. Liew also highlighted several challenges that departments need to address as they integrate AI into their operations. These include aggregating annotated big AI data in a cost-effective and secure manner, establishing trust in the technology among department staff, and measuring the productivity and quality impact of AI.
She underscored the importance of ethically integrating human and artificial intelligence, quoting Albert Einstein, “Concern for man and his fate must always be the chief objective, in order that the creations of our mind should be a blessing, not a curse.” Dr. Liew encouraged attendees to confront the integration of AI into medical imaging with courage and determination, concluding with the inspiring words, “Gather up your courage, because it’s your turn to write history.”
The discussion at the ISMRM meeting has highlighted the transformative impact of AI in radiology and the necessity for proactive and responsible integration of this technology into the healthcare system. As AI continues to advance, its widespread adoption holds the promise of improving patient care and revolutionizing the field of medical imaging.