What Role Does Artificial Intelligence Play in Radiology

Randall Wilson,Director, IT Operation,OSF HealthCare

Randall Wilson,Director, IT Operation,OSF HealthCare

When it comes to health, timing is everything, and getting a diagnosis sooner could save a patient's life. Computers have the ability to handle vast volumes of data, allowing them to undertake analytical jobs that would not be possible for humans to perform.

Imaging technology is critical in radiology for disease diagnoses and treatment. Radiographers, who specialize in medical imaging, use specialized imaging equipment to capture the images. Radiologists analyze images of the body's organs to diagnose disease using these images. Medical diagnoses and illness management continue to rely heavily on radiology. It lets doctors learn more about the body's structure or the underlying alterations caused by sickness.

What role does artificial intelligence have in radiology?

Radiology is a crucial component of medical care and one of the most effective diagnostic and therapeutic technologies available. Artificial intelligence is a part of computer science that uses computerized algorithms, which are step-by-step procedures for calculations, data processing, and automated reasoning. This is an important aspect of machine learning: data is gathered over time to create algorithms that will yield the greatest potential outcomes for an AI. After that, the information is used to achieve a goal or address an issue.

In the case of radiology, the algorithm-based computer code will take the medical image as input and produce an answer to assist the radiologist with their interpretation.

The use of a computer (AI) in diagnostic medical imaging has been shown to improve accuracy and specificity—it can detect anomalies. They are handy when it comes to picking up monotonous duties. These activities usually entail a lot of data entry, which radiologists would normally have to undertake, but they may now devote their time to other vital responsibilities. It also aids in the detection of more subtle lesions. This is especially useful when the radiologist is tired or preoccupied with something else. Medical imaging is increasingly becoming a part of the diagnosis process. As a result, the AI's end purpose must be the same as the radiologist's: it must be advantageous to the patient's well-being.