Utrecht, Netherlands, August 14, 2025 – A groundbreaking study led by Radboud University Medical Center reveals that artificial intelligence (AI) significantly enhances the early and accurate detection of breast cancer within the Dutch national screening program.

Published in The Lancet Digital Health, the study underscores how AI not only matches but potentially surpasses traditional screening methods. Researchers evaluated 42,000 mammograms from the Utrecht region, typically reviewed by two radiologists, and compared the results to assessments made with the assistance of an AI system developed by ScreenPoint Medical.

  • When one radiologist collaborated with AI, the screening identified more tumors, many at earlier, clinically significant stages, than the traditional double-radiologist approach.
  • AI occasionally flagged abnormalities not recognized by radiologists at the time, so-called “false positives”, which later appeared in subsequent mammograms, suggesting AI may detect cancer at an earlier stage.
  • Early detection is vital: smaller, invasive tumors caught sooner offer better treatment outcomes and prognoses. The study underlines AI’s promise in making that a reality.
  • If adopted, AI could replace the second radiologist, potentially saving millions of euros annually and easing radiologist workload.
  • Currently, AI is not yet integrated into the Dutch screening infrastructure. Due to the Netherlands’ national screening structure, nationwide implementation would require substantial IT modernization and investment.

Dr. Ritse Mann (Radboudumc), the study’s lead radiologist, emphasizes AI’s collaborative potential: “We see that radiologists work well with AI, which leads to more tumors being detected without a significant increase in unnecessary follow-up checks for women.

PhD candidate Suzanne van Winkel adds: “By the time the radiologist raises the alarm, it often concerns larger invasive tumors, which need treatment as early as possible.”

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