Steve Holloway, managing director at Signify Research, at ECR 2024 on investment prospects for AI developers.

We hope you enjoyed our coverage of ECR 2024, with more important studies presented in Vienna listed below. Be sure to also visit our Shows page for more video coverage from the event.

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Breast Imaging

MASAI Gets Even Better at ECR 2024

One of the biggest radiology stories of 2023 was the release of impressive interim results from the MASAI study, a large-scale trial of AI for breast screening in Sweden. At ECR 2024, MASAI researchers put an emphatic cap on the conference by presenting final data indicating that AI could have an even bigger impact on mammography screening than we thought. 

If you remember, MASAI’s interim results were published in August in Lancet Oncology and showed that ScreenPoint Medical’s Transpara AI algorithm was able to reduce radiologist workload by 44% when used as part of the kind of double-reading screening program that’s common in Europe.

• Another MASAI finding was that AI-aided screening had a 20% higher cancer detection rate than conventional double-reading with human radiologists, but the difference was not statistically significant. 

That’s all changed with the final MASAI results, presented at ECR on March 2 by senior author Kristina Lång, MD, of Lund University.

• Lång presented data from 106k participants who were randomized to either screening with Transpara V. 1.7 or conventional double reading without AI.

Transpara triaged mammograms by giving them a risk score of 1-10, and only those classified as high risk received double reading; lower-risk mammograms got a single human reader. In the final analysis, AI-aided screening … 

• Had a 28% higher cancer detection rate per 1k women (6.4 vs. 5.0), a difference that was statistically significant (p=0.002)
• Detected more cancers 10-20 mm (122 vs. 79)
• Detected more cancers of non-specific histologic type (204 vs. 155)
• Detected 20 more non-luminal A invasive cancers and 12 more DCIS grade 3 lesions

The Takeaway

When combined with the Lancet Oncology data, the new MASAI results indicate that AI could enable breast radiologists to have their cake and eat it too: a lower workload with higher cancer detection rates. 

Clinical Excellence on the Move

Healthcare providers are striving to deliver faster, better care for patients, no matter where they are. Learn how the MAGNETOM Viato.Mobile 1.5T MRI scanner from Siemens Healthineers delivers high-quality care where your services are needed most.

Best in KLAS for Cardiovascular Imaging

The Merge Cardio and Merge Hemo solutions from Merge by Merative have been named Best in KLAS 2024 for Cardiology and Hemodynamics. Learn more about the solutions that have dominated both KLAS categories since 2007.

The Wire

• Breast AI Advances at ECR: MASAI wasn’t the only positive study on Transpara AI at ECR 2024. Other impressive findings included:
  • A Spanish team used Transpara as a second reader instead of double reading to exclude 66% of 19.2k screening mammograms from radiologist review, saving time with higher cancer detection rate per 1k women (6.7 vs. 5.9) 
  • Dutch researchers tracked the improvement of Transpara AI over five years, finding that sensitivity of different software versions improved from 62% to 79% for early versions to 88% for a 2023 version

• Other Breast AI Apps Shine: Transpara is hardly the only breast AI algorithm out there, and other applications also shined in ECR presentations:
  • In the GEMINI trial of Kheiron Medical’s Mia AI software for breast screening, using AI as an extra reader led to a 13% increase in cancer detection
  • Using iCAD’s ProFound software to guide breast screening recalls reduced radiologist workload 25-35%
  • US researchers used Hologic’s Genius AI Detection software to review prior DBT mammograms originally interpreted as normal to find signs of malignancy and create risk scores

• CT Lung Screening Moves Ahead: CT lung cancer screening is gaining steam, and researchers at ECR shared the latest results from multiple research studies:
  • Coreline Soft’s aview LCS algorithm excluded 65% of CT lung screening cases from radiologist review 
  • Taiwanese researchers described their country’s CT lung cancer screening program
  • Results from national lung screening programs in Europe were presented by researchers from the SOLACE Project
  • AI reconstruction of CT lung scans reduced the number of projection views required (2048 to 64 views), while maintaining image quality and radiologist confidence

• New Advances in CT:
  • Hungarian researchers found that Siemens Healthineers’ PureLumen calcium removal algorithm reduced blooming artifacts on photon-counting CT images to improve CT fractional flow reserve exams
  • US researchers discussed their work with a photon-counting CT scanner from Canon Medical Research using cadmium zinc telluride digital detectors and its applicability in quantifying iodine in spectral mode
  • A session investigated the effects of low-dose radiation on human health, and progress toward dose reduction

• Chest X-Ray AI: Radiography remains radiology’s most commonly used modality, with chest imaging making up the lion’s share of use. Top studies at ECR included:
  • Findings from the Project AIR program comparing seven AI algorithms for lung cancer detection on chest X-rays showed that four performed better than humans while three didn’t
  • Researchers from Singapore described their project for real-world monitoring of AI performance, in this case Lunit’s Insight CXR algorithm
  • AI software stratified chest X-rays for lung cancer, reducing delays in getting patients further workup (10 vs. 22 days)
  • Single-exposure dual-energy X-ray can help identify catheter placement on chest X-rays 

• CT Spearheads Philips ECR Debuts: Imaging vendors were also active at ECR 2024. A new CT scanner with detectors optimized for AI reconstruction was the highlight for Philips, with its CT 5300 scanner featuring the company’s new Nanopanel Precise detectors that leverage its Image Precise reconstruction software for high-quality images at 80% lower dose. Philips also highlighted a new motorized version of its Zenition 90 mobile C-arm, and launched Smart Quant Neuro 3D, an MRI application developed with Synthetic MR for automatic 3D segmentation and volume measurement of brain tissue.

• GE Updates Logiq Ultrasound at ECR: GE HealthCare touted new additions to its Logiq line of ultrasound scanners at ECR 2024. Logiq Totus is a multipurpose scanner designed for full-body imaging across clinical applications, while AI-based workflow and decision-support tools have been added to Logiq E10 and Logiq Fortis. The Vscan Air CL handheld scanner can also now be used as a probe with Logiq systems. Finally, GE released Logiq AppAPI, which enables third parties to develop apps that can run on Logiq, such as PIUR Imaging’s thyroid analysis tool. 

• Canon Launches Ultrasound, X-Ray at ECR: New ultrasound and X-ray systems were ECR 2024 highlights at Canon Medical Systems. Aplio me is a new mid-range ultrasound scanner that’s positioned between Aplio Flex and Aplio a-series as a multipurpose offering that’s portable (4 hours battery life) and performs applications from cardiovascular to abdominal imaging. Xavion is a new combo X-ray and fluoroscopy system that performs both static and dynamic imaging, with a single 43 x 43cm portable digital detector usable in either the table or a separate wall stand.

• IW’s ViVE 2024 Takeaways: The Imaging Wire also made a visit to ViVE 2024 in Los Angeles last week, finding plenty of imaging-related conversations, but not as many imaging companies or solutions. The exhibit hall featured a pair of bluechip imaging companies (GE, Canon), one handheld ultrasound vendor (Exo), and two imaging AI players (Aidoc, Test Dynamics). That said, there were plenty of other imaging industry members in attendance who didn’t have booths, and the innovations presented at the conference may prove to have a massive impact on all specialties, including radiology.

• EMVision Gets $10M: Australian medical device developer EMVision raised US $10M from test and measurement firm Keysight Technologies. EMVision is developing emu, an electromagnetic brain scanner that uses a cap placed on the patient’s head to acquire data with ultra-high-frequency radio signals for evaluating neurological events in intensive care units and stroke and neurology wards. The companies signed an OEM supply deal in 2022.

• Carestream to Close Plant, Lay Off 200: Digital X-ray developer Carestream will close a manufacturing plant in Colorado and lay off over 200 employees who had been working there. Carestream notified state authorities of the closure, which it said was the result of “reduced production volumes,” high costs, and “opportunities to streamline shipment between sites.” Carestream in 2022 completed a recapitalization deal in which the company’s lenders took control of the firm from private equity group Onex.

• FFR AI Smooths TAVR Workup: AI-based fractional flow reserve predictions (FFRai) based on photon counting CT coronary angiography (PC-CCTA) exams could improve TAVR workups. In a study of 260 patients, FFRai (using Spimed’s CorEx solution) produced stenosis quantifications with a far greater AUC than PC-CCTA alone (0.92 vs. 0.82), while FFRai could have prevented invasive coronary angiography in 46.5% of cases (vs. 37.3% w/ PC-CCTA alone).

Challenges of Messy Data in Healthcare Research

Data is the lifeblood of healthcare research, but one hurdle faced by researchers is messy data. Learn the top five strategies for effective data management in healthcare research in this article from Enlitic.

The Benefits of Breast Imaging AI

Breast imaging AI can help providers reduce their workload and improve patient care. Blackford Analysis offers a wide selection of breast imaging AI apps on its Blackford Platform – find out how they could benefit your organization.

Overcoming Challenges to Achieving Quadruple Aim Goals

Watch a highlight from RSNA explaining how to overcome barriers to improving population health, patient experience, avoiding revenue loss, and increasing staff wellness. Presented by PocketHealth Co-Founder & CEO Rishi Nayyar.

The Resource Wire

• Empowering Radiology: Dianne Keen’s Journey: In this episode of The Radiology Report Podcast, Medality founder and CEO Daniel Arnold sits down with Dianne Keen, a healthcare education and marketing specialist with over 25 years of experience in radiology practice development. 

• Next-Generation Radiology Reporting: Join the conversation in this webinar recording and hear from PACS administrator Griff R. Van Dusen of Memorial Health System how Nuance PowerScribe One’s next-generation reporting experience helps streamline workflow and improve report quality so radiologists can get more done in less time. 

• Leveraging a Proven Echo AI Platform: Us2.ai has developed a promising new pathway for bringing custom echo AI applications into widespread clinical and commercial use – historically a challenge for algorithms produced by health systems and academic institutions. Find out how it worked in Uganda in this article.

• AI-Powered Informatics to Drive Healthcare Value: The DeepHealth OS is a cloud-native operating system that orchestrates all data to drive value across the healthcare enterprise. Learn more about how DeepHealth elevates the radiologist beyond radiology and across the entire care pathway 

• Unleash the Power of the Cloud: Change Healthcare’s cloud-native, zero-footprint Stratus Imaging PACS is live in clinical use. See how Stratus Imaging PACS is helping radiology practices improve productivity and patient care, while eliminating the cost and resource constraints of on-premise systems.

• Automated Solutions for Patient and Provider Sharing: What’s the latest news from Clearpath? Find out how its fully automated patient and provider solutions for sharing medical records and images are making waves in healthcare.

• Top 5 Trends from RSNA 2023: What were the top 5 trends from RSNA 2023? Check out this review from Brad Levin of Visage Imaging on the topics and technologies that took center stage in Chicago. 

• AI Improves Radiologist Sensitivity for Fractures: Gleamer’s AI algorithm for detecting hand and wrist fractures on X-rays improved radiologist sensitivity in a recent clinical study – without affecting their specificity or positive predictive value. Find out how it worked on this page. 

• Radiology Automation Simplified: A recent statement by top radiology societies states that there should be close collaboration between the developers and users of AI. Find out in this video how CARPL.ai worked with University Hospitals, Cleveland for AI testing, deployment, and monitoring. 

• Revolutionizing Radiology with Clear Visual Intelligence: The University of New Mexico Hospital is partnering with Riverain Technologies to revolutionize radiology with the use of ClearRead CT with Clear Visual Intelligence for chest CT scans. Get details about the partnership on this page.

• Solutions to Support Breast Density Reporting: The FDA has ruled that healthcare providers must inform patients of their breast density status. Learn how Intelerad’s solutions can help mammography facilities comply with this new rule well ahead of this year’s deadline. 

• Two Questions about AI for Radiology Leaders: Are today’s radiology AI solutions solving the right problems? And are there other solutions available for AI of brain MRI? Read this article from SpinTech MRI to learn how its STAGE solution can optimize MRI utilization. 

• Windsong’s Case for MEDRAD Stellant FLEX CT: Learn how Windsong Radiology Group used Bayer’s MEDRAD Stellant FLEX CT injection system to drive efficiencies and standardization across its imaging centers.

• Modern Technology for Better Patient Outcomes: United Imaging is developing modern medical imaging technology for better patient outcomes. CEO Jeffrey Bundy, PhD, explains the company’s unique philosophy in this interview with Healthcare Tech Outlook. 

• Seamless Integration and Efficient Reading: TeraRecon’s latest Intuition advanced visualization solution now features seamless integration with Mirada Medical’s Mirada XD, providing efficient diagnostic reading with automatic multi-modality and multi-time point registration capabilities. Schedule a demo to learn more.