AI-based lung cancer screening in Karnataka detects 133 lung nodule malignancy and nearly 3,000 TB-presumptive cases in last nine months

Of the 20,418 patients screened for lung cancer through the State Health Department’s artificial intelligence (AI) programme in 19 district hospitals since November last year, as many as 133 patients have been detected with high lung nodule malignancy, which is often a precursor to lung cancer.

Of the 20,418 patients screened for lung cancer through the State Health Department’s artificial intelligence (AI) programme in 19 district hospitals since November last year, as many as 133 patients have been detected with high lung nodule malignancy, which is often a precursor to lung cancer.

Of these patients, who have been referred to specialists for further investigations, one confirmed lung cancer was detected on CT this month. Officials said the remaining patients are yet to come back with reports. Besides, among the 20,418 screened, as many as 2,805 have been found to have presumptive tuberculosis. August 1 is observed as World Lung Cancer Day.

With most lung cancer cases detected at the last stage in the absence of specific common testing techniques for the disease, early intervention has become a challenge. In this context, the State Health Department had tied up with AstraZeneca to deploy AI-based lung cancer screening technology in its hospitals.

State Health Commissioner Randeep D. said the AI-based lung cancer screening technology would screen a patient for 29 lung diseases in one chest X-ray. Developed by Qure.ai, this AI-powered chest X-ray system will help the government detect lung nodules, overcoming a major early detection challenge, he said.

In Karnataka, the incidence of cancer is increasing by about 1% each year in both men and women. In 2023, a total of 88,873 cancer cases were recorded in the State of which 5,272 (5.9%) were lung cancers.

According to data from the State-run Kidwai Memorial Institute of Oncology, the institute sees around 25,000 new cancer cases every year. “In 2023, 11,712 patients tested positive for malignancy and of these 721 (6.2%) were diagnosed with lung cancers (508 male patients and 213 female patients) at Kidwai. Of these, only around 500 patients continue treatment,” said L.K. Rajeev, associate professor in Medical Oncology at the institute.

Stating that the number of patients continuing treatment for lung cancer is increasing when compared with that in the last decade, Dr. Rajeev said late presentation remains a crucial issue. “Most patients present with fourth-stage cancers. Of the 15% who report in early stages, only 5% are fit to undergo surgeries,” the doctor said.