Artificial intelligence in breast ultrasound: application in clinical practice

Abstract

Ultrasound (US) is a widely accessible and extensively used tool for breast imaging. It is commonly used as an additional screening tool, especially for women with dense breast tissue. Advances in artificial intelligence (AI) have led to the development of various AI systems that assist radiologists in identifying and diagnosing breast lesions using US. This article provides an overview of the background and supporting evidence for the use of AI in hand held breast US. It discusses the impact of AI on clinical workflow, covering breast cancer detection, diagnosis, prediction of molecular subtypes, evaluation of axillary lymph node status, and response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Additionally, the article highlights the potential significance of AI in breast US for low and middle income countries.