A new artificial intelligence tool developed by Dr. Prasad Iyer and his team at Mayo Clinic can predict the risk of esophageal cancer and Barrett's esophagus more than a year before diagnosis.
The tool analyzes data from an extensive database of 6 million anonymous electronic health records. It aims to improve detection rates, which remain low despite the availability of minimally invasive screening methods.
By integrating into electronic health records, the AI tool prompts healthcare professionals to consider screening for Barrett's esophagus when necessary. The study, published in 'Clinical and Translational Gastroenterology', identified 8,476 individuals with Barrett's esophagus and 1,539 with esophageal cancer to create predictive models.
Results indicate that the tool has a high level of accuracy, potentially transforming early detection and treatment strategies in primary care settings.