AI opens new possibilities
When it comes to deeper anatomical structures, ultrasound quickly reaches its limits, and the physical limitations of air-filled structures remain unchanged, Dr Trenker pointed out. The high level of examiner dependency also continues to be an issue – but this could change in the future: New publications suggest, for example, that artificial intelligence (AI) could support the traditionally demanding screening for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).4 Considering the growing issue of staff shortages, which also affects experienced sonographers, this is a promising development, the expert pointed out – even if there are still a lot of unsolved questions regarding data protection.
Dr Trenker illustrated the amazing diagnostic potential of AI in ultrasound by looking at a recent meta-analysis from China: here, researchers used AI to analyse the sonograms of more than 11,000 breast cancer patients – and, based on this alone, predicted their HER2 receptor status with a high degree of accuracy.5 ‘This is a little hard to grasp, but, at least in initial studies, it is possible. I believe that many more applications in this field will emerge in the future.’