Artificial intelligence–supported mammography improves breast cancer screening outcomes and reduces the number of cancers diagnosed between screening rounds, according to the full results of the MASAI trial published inThe Lancet. The randomised controlled study involved over 1,00,000 women across Sweden, making it the first trial to show that AI not only boosts detection at screening but also lowers future cancer diagnoses.

Researchers found that AI-supported screening detected 81 percent of cancers during routine mammography, compared with 74 percent in standard double reading by radiologists. This improvement translated into a 12 percent reduction in interval cancers—those diagnosed after a negative screening result and before the next scheduled exam—often considered more aggressive and harder to treat.

Importantly, the use of AI did not increase false-positive rates and significantly reduced radiologists’ workload by triaging low-risk cases for single reading. Experts say these findings suggest AI can enhance early detection of clinically relevant breast cancers while supporting overstretched healthcare systems.

Indian oncologists believe the results are particularly relevant for India, where most breast cancers are still diagnosed at advanced stages due to limited screening access and workforce shortages. If implemented with proper validation and safeguards, AI-supported mammography could help standardise screening quality, improve early diagnosis and ultimately reduce breast cancer mortality.