Medical Diagnosis of the Future: AI technology used for cancer detection in Chinese hospitals

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China is exploring artificial intelligence application in different areas. Now another breakthrough has been made in the medical sector. AI technology is being used to detect cancer. CGTN's He Weiwei has the details.

At Shenzhen No. 6 People's Hospital, Dr. Cheng Chunsheng is conducting a gastroscopy for a patient. During the procedure, dozens of images are being taken of the esophagus to look for cancer. Esophageal cancer is one of the deadliest cancers in China.

Usually the accuracy of the diagnosis relies on a doctor's personal experience and skill. This is where an AI system becomes quite helpful.

DR. CHENG CHUNSHENG SHENZHEN NO. 6 PEOPLE'S HOSPITAL For example, we have 50 images, the AI system will analyze them all and select five pictures showing a high possibility of cancer, then I check the selected images directly to make a final diagnosis. It's faster and more efficient.

The system is called Miying, developed by Chinese Internet giant Tencent. Its database comes from cancer diagnosis information from first-class hospitals in China. Since its trial use began in June 2017, it has served 400 thousand patients.

LUO XUDONG, PRESIDENT SHENZHEN NO. 6 PEOPLE'S HOSPITAL We established a joint program with Tencent to provide necessary data, now the accuracy of early detection of esophageal cancer has reached 90%, roughly the same level of diagnosis made by human doctors.

HE WEIWEI SHENZHEN This is one of the first hospitals in China to put such an intelligent system under pilot trial for clinical testing. Last November, China announced its plan to build a national platform for AI diagnostic medical imaging.

Developers say they're trying to enlarge the system's database and expand its coverage in China.

ZHOU XUAN, SENIOR PRODUCT DIRECTOR INTERNET PLUS PARTNERSHIP, TENCENT AI is able to learn from numerous data, that's what humans can't do. We hope the system can reach out to remote areas and grassroots hospitals in China, where patients can get a diagnosis as accurate as in first-class hospitals in big cities.

So far the system has been used for detection of esophageal and lung cancer, as well as diabetes. It is expected to cover the ten deadliest cancers in China in the future. HWW, CGTN, SZ.