A rare form of leukemia, which doctors had failed to diagnose, has been identified using artificial intelligence.
Artificial intelligence has many surprises in store for us … In Japan, a supercomputer managed to detect a rare form of leukemia in a 60-year-old patient that doctors could not diagnose, announced the medical team of the University of Tokyo.
A few minutes
The machine in question is a supercomputer called Watson and manufactured by the American giant IBM. At breakneck speed, she analyzed the patient’s genetic data and compared it with 20 million pieces of data from clinical oncology studies. This research allowed him to make a diagnosis in just a few minutes, which turned out to be correct.
It would have taken a lifetime for humans to process so much data, identify each genetic mutation and search the abundant scientific literature. The man, who had to face his own limits before calling on Watson. According to the Indian agency IANS, the patient was first diagnosed with acute myelogenous leukemia, which treatments were ineffective, leaving the medical team in disarray. The new diagnosis made by the machine made it possible to readjust the drug therapy, with ultimately favorable results.
Hopes
While there is no question of glorifying the supremacy of artificial intelligence over humans, we must nevertheless salute the feat and stress that this type of method is likely to become widespread. Many companies are investing in the genomic medicine sector and technological prowess is accelerating at a breakneck pace.
For the moment, however, Watson is only available in about fifteen centers around the world, according to data communicated in May 2015 by the manufacturer. It does not replace man, of course, but it complements it really well!
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