Baptist testing AI algorithm with knack for detecting lung cancer
Dr. Ray Osarogiagbon, chief scientist at Baptist Memorial Health Care and director of the cancer center’s thoracic oncology research group, is working with an an AI tool called Sybil to analyze low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) scans to detect future lung cancer risk. (Mark Weber/The Daily Memphian)
With only one scan, an AI tool called Sybil detects who will develop lung cancer five or six years down the road, with more than 90% accuracy.
One of the reasons the research is important in the Mid-South is that the incidence of histoplasmosis spots on lungs is high for people who live on the Mississippi River corridor.
Doctors don’t know if they are cancerous or benign unless they follow them for years, which requires more scans or biopsies.
If the algorithm can accurately predict who is going to develop lung cancer, doctors can stop worrying so much about the people not likely to develop lung cancer “and focus on this other group, irrespective of whether they currently have a spot on their lungs,” Osarogiagbon said.
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Sybil Dr. Raymond Osarogiagbon Baptist Cancer Center Subscriber Only2025 is almost over. Now is the time to support your trusted local news source.
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Jane Roberts
Jane Roberts has reported in Memphis for more than 20 years. As a senior member of The Daily Memphian staff, she was assigned to the medical beat during the COVID-19 pandemic. She also has done in-depth work on other medical issues facing our community, including shortages of specialists in local hospitals. She covered K-12 education here for years and later the region’s transportation sector, including Memphis International Airport and FedEx Corp.
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