Artificial Intelligence Helps Diagnosis Osteoporosis
Sounds like magic but only math. “The department physician Orthopedic Surgery and professor at the University of Oviedo, Miguel Angel Suarez, were done to explain the medical revolution that will apply the techniques of Artificial Intelligence (AI) as a diagnostic method. Specifically, yesterday, Dr. Suarez spoke about osteoporosis, a disease that causes every 30 seconds; a person suffers a fracture in the EU, of which only 40% recover fully. It is a condition that involves a gradual decline in the quantity and bone quality.
The investigation led by orthopedic surgeon, along with his chief of service, Antonio Murcia, and two engineers who joined them earlier studies, has provided more than encouraging results. Conventional diagnostic methods for osteoporosis, bone mineral density test (BMD), CT and ultrasound-present problems of cost, waiting lists and, in the first two cases, radiation to the patient. The new method eliminates virtually all of them.
But how exactly? Artificial Intelligence means nothing more or less, on a computer that tries to mimic the way the brain information processing, i.e. learning that recognizes patterns and is able to adapt to the environment. In fact, it is called a neural network. Well, one of these networks analyzes the results of a simple questionnaire of 135 questions completed by patients at home through a web platform. Collect the 12 variables contained in the issues, which directly influence the development of osteoporosis. With these data, making a diagnosis and, here comes the magic, the study shows that results Asturian agree over 95% with the standard diagnostic method, the DMO.
The test was developed by the National Cancer Institute of USA and up to 36 variables analyzed to detect tumors. Suarez’s team eliminated the variables that influence the development of osteoporosis, was left with 12, and has succeeded in opening a road with many possibilities.