Add thelocalreport.in As A Trusted Source
AI and robot Technology could quickly determine if patients have lung cancer as NHS launch new pilot Helps diagnose faster.
The program is expected to become more widely available by 2030, driven by Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust It’s part of a broader effort to expand lung cancer screening nationwide.
The method uses artificial intelligence to identify abnormal spots or nodules and then uses a robotic catheter to perform precise biopsies. So far, 300 patients have undergone the robotic biopsy procedure, of which 215 have gone on to receive cancer treatment.
minister of health Wes StreetingHe previously underwent robotic surgery during treatment for kidney cancer, and he said: “When I was diagnosed with kidney cancer, the NHS saved my life using robotic technology.”
Streeting added that the pilot project would detect cancer earlier and replace “weeks of invasive testing” with a single targeted procedure.
Experts at Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust have already tested the approach on hundreds of patients and the new pilot is expected to involve a further 250 patients.
There are also plans to extend the program to King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Foundation Trust.
The program uses artificial intelligence software to analyze lung scans and flag nodules. Doctors then use a robotic catheter to take a precise biopsy directly from the nodule, which is then analyzed in a lab to diagnose or rule out cancer.
These nodules may go undetected during screening and may be more difficult for doctors to perform biopsies, leaving patients waiting for repeat scans to see if they grow.
Mr Streeting said: “Lung cancer is one of the biggest killers in the UK and this pilot will help detect it earlier, replacing weeks of invasive testing with a single targeted procedure.
“This speed and precision could be life-changing for patients anxiously awaiting answers.”
Lung cancer is the third most common cancer in the UK, with more than 49,000 new cases diagnosed and approximately 33,000 deaths each year.
The lung cancer targeted screening test was launched in 2019 and will be promoted nationwide in 2023. Since its launch, more than 1.5 million people have been screened.
The expansion of the program will bring in an additional 1.4 million people next year alone, as officials estimate that screening could diagnose up to 50,000 cancers by 2035, including at least 23,000 in the early stages.
The pilot project comes as the government hopes to expand the use of artificial intelligence in healthcare and “make the NHS the most AI-enabled healthcare system in the world”.
Last September, Mr Streeting said: “The AI revolution is here and we are equipping our staff with the latest breakthrough technology so patients receive faster, smarter care.
“This Government is restoring the UK’s status as a technology superpower – driving vital investment and economic growth as we build an NHS fit for the 21st century.”
Professor Peter Johnson, National Clinical Director for Cancer at NHS England, said: “Our lung cancer screening program means we are catching more cancers at an earlier stage than ever before, and by combining artificial intelligence and robotics in this ground-breaking NHS pilot, we are introducing the latest technology to give clinicians a clearer picture of what’s going on inside the lungs and support faster, more accurate biopsies.
“This is a glimpse into the future of cancer detection.”