Abstract 103P
Background
In the context of the Covid-19 pandemic, due to the dramatically increased volume of CT exams and COVID-19 pneumonia signs as a background there is a the risk of missing nodules. The goal of our project was to evaluate the effectiveness of using automated image processing with AI in chest COVID CT scans analysis for pulmonary nodes detection.
Methods
9035 scans were selected for the study. The inclusion criteria were age over 45 years and the volume of lung affected by COVID less than 50%. The depersonalized images retrospectively were processed on the Botkin.AI platform. The identified nodules were automatically marked, countered and classified according to Lung-RADS criteria. After the automatic AI analysis, the obtained results were assess by experts to check the correctness of the data.
Results
As a result of AI analysis absence of nodules was confirmed in 8123 (89.9%) of cases. Pathological nodules were detected in 912 (10.1%) of cases: Lung-RADS 2, 3 - 662 pts (68% of them and 7% of the total number of cases); Lung-RADS 4a, 4b - 290 pts (32% of cases with nodules and 3% of the total number of processed studies). The results of experts reassessment were: - nodules were confirmed in 139 cases (48% of the number of nodal changes of the Lung-RADS 4a, 4b category detected by AI); - nodal formations were not confirmed in 132 cases (45% of the number of nodal changes of the Lung-RADS 4a, 4b category detected by AI); - 19 cases were classified as doubtful (7% of the number of nodal changes identified by AI in the Lung-RADS 4a, 4b category). 27 cases, with the nodules detected by AI were missed by radiologists.
Conclusions
Artificial intelligence can help to decrease the healthcare system overload and optimize the diagnostics of lung nodules. Thanks to artificial intelligence, the volume of research for the retrospective experts assessment of significant changes in the lungs belonging to the Lung-RADS 4a, 4c category is 3.2% of the total research volume. Automated image processing algorithms (Botkin.AI platform) provides an opportunity to reliably identify or exclude lung nodules against the background of inflammatory changes caused by the “new coronavirus infection”.
Legal entity responsible for the study
The author.
Funding
Has not received any funding.
Disclosure
The author has declared no conflicts of interest.