The development and use of artificial intelligence (AI) for healthcare applications – including radiology – took a major step forward in the past year. Moreover, there’s no sign of AI advancement slowing down in 2018.

For many women, getting a call back from the doctor’s office informing them of an abnormality on their mammogram is scary, if not terrifying.

But an abnormal mammogram doesn’t necessarily mean you have cancer. In fact, the numbers are heavily in your favor to begin with: the American Cancer Society reports that only 10% of women are called back for more tests following their initial mammogram, and only 8 to 10% of those called back will need a biopsy to determine if cancer is present.

The fields of healthcare and medicine have embraced a steady stream of new technology in the past several years and the future is destined to bring more of the same. That includes the field of radiology, in which the future promises to hold even greater value to patients.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) of the brain involves the use of a magnetic field and radio waves to produce detailed images of the brain and brain stem. MRIs help doctors detect a variety of conditions of the brain, including tumors, cysts, bleeding, swelling, and more.

While a routine screening mammogram won’t prevent breast cancer, it does save countless lives by detecting the disease as early as possible. The Mayo Clinic cites research in which regular screening mammograms have reduced breast cancer deaths by 30% in the U.S. alone.