18
Aug
Harrogate hospital first in UK to use AI breast cancer scanner
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Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust has become the first NHS trust to implement new artificial intelligence technology to diagnose and treat breast cancer.
The AI-enabled HER2 tissue scanning system will be used by the histopathology department at Harrogate District Hospital, which carries out biopsies during cancer diagnosis.
The development was pioneered by researchers at Guangzhou Medical University in China.
The scanner works by capturing high-resolution digital images of breast cancer tissue samples, and uses an advanced AI algorithm to help pathologists to assess the presence of the HER2/neu gene.
The identification of the gene, which can cause breast cancer, will then inform the decision to offer patients drug treatments. Human pathologists will maintain oversight at every stage.
The new VENTANA® DP 200 AI-powered slide scanner at Harrogate Hospital.
The hospital said today it hopes faster diagnoses will improve treatment and outcomes for patients.
The technology has been funded by the efforts of Harrogate Hospital & Community Charity, which raised over £40,000 as part of its 30th birthday campaign.
The trust hopes to increase its use of new technologies, such as AI software, to improve patient care. AI is already being used by clinicians worldwide in a number of new ways, such as in improving the accuracy of chest x-rays, particularly for conditions like lung cancer.
Histology section manager, Philippa Bleasdale, said:
It was wonderful to see the scanner and AI software being installed in the department after all the efforts of Harrogate Hospital & Community Charity and the histopathology team.
Whilst this technology will initially be used to improve the pathway for breast cancer patients, in the future it is hoped it can be used to assist with the interpretation of other biomarkers for different cancers, such as lung cancer.
Yvonne Campbell, head of charity at the trust, said:
Our mission is to enhance healthcare for our patients, families and communities, being able to provide cutting edge technology closer to homes and improving the outcomes for those who access our services.
We are incredibly grateful for the support we receive every day from patients, their families and the wider community. Without that support, projects like this would not be possible.
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