During testing, the AI identified four areas in the kidneys with signs of malignancy that had previously gone unnoticed by radiologists. Better Medicine is an Estonian medical technology company that develops tools for cancer detection and diagnosis. Its portfolio includes BMVision Kidney — an AI-based tool that is the first and currently the only clinical assistant for radiologists in kidney cancer detection, approved for clinical use. The University of Tartu Clinic used the BMVision Kidney technology for six months alongside the standard workflow of radiologists. Over six months, 4,276 abdominal CT scans were analyzed. Preliminary results indicate that the artificial intelligence detected formations with possible signs of malignancy in 171 cases. In four of these cases, the AI drew attention to areas in the kidneys that were not identified during the initial assessment of the study and were not described in the radiologist's report. According to the head of the radiology clinic at the University of Tartu Clinic, Professor Pilvi Ilves, kidney cancer is often discovered incidentally during examinations conducted for other reasons. "When a patient arrives at the hospital, for example, with an injury, the radiologist evaluates the CT scan results as a whole, rather than just the specific injury. In such an emergency situation, the awareness that an AI-based auxiliary tool is working alongside the radiologist, analyzing the image as an additional pair of eyes and drawing attention to possible tumor formations, provides extra confidence," said Ilves. A report published this year by the Health Development Institute on cancer diseases notes that the number of newly diagnosed cancer cases has been steadily increasing, reaching 9,835 in 2023. The report also highlights that cancer is often diagnosed only after it has already spread beyond the primary site. Statistics for 2023 show that in 31% of cases, by the time of diagnosis, the tumor had already reached the stage of distant metastases, making treatment difficult and the predicted lifespan short. "If the cost of treating early-stage kidney cancer is approximately 7,300 euros, then for late-stage it can reach up to 109,000 euros. And, of course, we cannot forget the invaluable impact this has on the patient and their loved ones," said Salumaa. He added that Better Medicine aims to continue developing tools for cancer detection and diagnosis, ultimately aiming for a solution capable of analyzing the entire abdominal cavity in the future.
