Paris and Nice, October 19th, 2022  – Therapixel, a French company specialized in the detection of breast cancer using artificial intelligence (AI), announces the start of a prospective clinical study to evaluate the contribution of AI in the second reading of screening mammograms.

Breast cancer can be cured in 90% of cases, if caught in time, which is based on the earliest possible detection. In the French breast cancer screening program, a first radiologist at a licensed office performs and reads the mammogram, if no abnormalities are found, the images are sent to the regional screening structure (CRCDC) for proofreading by a second radiologist, qualified for this second reading. The shortage of expert radiologists for this second reading is increasing, and the process is still very manual: the images are printed on films and sent to the management structure by courier, which lengthens the patient’s time to be informed of their screening results. The opportunity is to accelerate the processing of the result through the digitization of the process and the addition of an AI tool to automatically negate a part of the cases, to leave to the expert radiologist only the contentious cases, that is to say when the AI and the first reader do not agree.

This use case is expected to bring many benefits: the same quality of care, a faster final report for patients and a lower cost.

The study is prospective in real life in the PACA region, in France, and involves eight radiology offices : Cabinet de Radiologie du Cabot (Marseille), Centre de radiologie Les Défensions, (Aubagne), the centres of VAR Imagerie Médicale : Centre Le France (Draguignan), Centre de la Gare (Saint-Raphaël), Clinique des Lauriers (Fréjus), Centre d’Imagerie Médicale Epsilon (Saint-Raphaël), Ce’tre d’Imagerie Médicale Le Clipper (Tassigny), Ce’tre d’Imagerie Médicale Mistral (Sainte-Maxime), CRCDC Sud PACA and two industrialists, Imaging Solutions for Scanning and Therapixel for AI. The study will look at 5,000 women participating in organized screening. The AI scenario provides an opinion in parallel with the traditional reading, so that there can be no misses for the patient. This study will aim to show that for some AI scores, with a very low probability of malignancy, an automatic second reading can be considered without risk of missing cancer. Thus, the second-reading radiologists will focus on the most complicated cases.

Dr Seradour, President of the CRCDC Sud PACA says: “This study, which we are launching in partnership with CRCDC Sud Paca-Solutions Imaging-Therapixel, is the first French experiment in the framework of organized screening, on the interest of AI in 2nd reading. It will allow us to assess the role of AI in reducing the number of second reads in cases of negative AI results.”

Patrice Heid, Director of the CRCDC Sud PACA adds: “It is also, in parallel with this very important research project for the future of the second reading, a first PACA test of dematerialization of mammography images. There will be no change in the process of second reading, but the addition of a completely digitized stream in parallel with the current film circuit. This is crucial to ensure the quality of our program and patient safety. This project will be deployed on two CRCDC Sud PACA antennae, and will involve 8 of our radiology centers and all of our second readers.”

Thierry Boisson, Chief Executive Officer of Solutions Imaging, says: “This study is part of the process of innovation and improvement of our Gédéon software (dematerialization of the L2). Explore the economic potential of AI in our solution and achieve a performance that will combine improved prevention, diagnostic accuracy, cost control and address human resources issues.”

Thomas Bertinotti, Chief Product Director at Therapixel, adds: “Evaluating a second-reading scenario that combines mammography dematerialization and artificial intelligence is a major step forward for organized breast cancer screening. In addition to solving a real problem using innovative technologies, this type of use offers new evolutionary perspectives such as the introduction of tomosynthesis in organized screening.”

About Therapixel

Therapixel is a French company specialized in the design and commercialization of AI-powered medical imaging software, with the goal of delivering pertinent information at the right time to healthcare professionals. Winner of the Digital Mammography DREAM Challenge in 2017, the global competition on breast cancer detection with AI, Therapixel has developed MammoScreen®, a software that helps with the interpretation of screening 2D and 3D mammograms. With MammoScreen®, even experienced radiologists can improve their performance, feel more confident in their judgment, and reassure women quicker. Find more at www.mammoscreen.com

Contact:
Neliya Tumbeva
media@therapixel.com

About Solutions Imaging

Solutions Imaging is a French company based in Alsace, specialized in the design and development of software for the medical community. Innovation Award in 2017 for our software Gédéon (second reading dematerialization management software) which allows on-line entry of tests in radiology offices, Paperless transfer of mammograms for re-reading in CRCCs and sending to practitioners via encrypted email. To date in Alsace, 27 connected offices and clinics and more than 150,000 electronic records. Learn more about it here www.solutionsimaging.fr.

About CRCDC SUD-PACA

CRCDC SUD-PACA, Centre Régional de Coordination des Dépistage des Cancers SUD-PACA, association loi 1901, is the regional result of the meeting of the old departmental structures of screening, in accordance with the specifications promulgated by decree in March 2018. Since January 1, 2019, the departmental management structures for organized cancer screening (ARCADES 13, ADCA 84, ISIS 83, APREMAS 06, ADOC 04-05) have merged into a single structure: the Centre Régional de Coordination des Dépistages des Cancers Sud Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur (CRCDC SUD PACA). Association of type law 1901, its essential mission is to organize the screening of various cancers in the region South Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur. It is funded by the Regional Health Agency PACA (ARS) and Health Insurance. Chaired by Doctor Brigitte SERADOUR, the association has 50 employees. The CRCDC SUD PACA has 5 branches and covers 6 departments. Learn more about them here www.depistage-cancers-sud.org.