Artificial intelligence in pathology: Support for cancer diagnostics at Klinikum Nürnberg
Teaser
The article in the Nürnberger Nachrichten newspaper highlights how artificial intelligence can change the work of pathologists. At Nuremberg Hospital, pathologists examine a large number of tissue samples from the gastrointestinal tract every day to detect inflammation, infections, or tumors. AI can already provide support in this process by recognizing different tissue types and distinguishing between healthy and inflamed mucous membranes.
The system is being developed in collaboration with the Chair of Explainable Machine Learning at the University of Bamberg under the direction of Prof. Dr. Christian Ledig. The large number of samples collected annually at Nuremberg Hospital provides an important basis for training the algorithms. The aim of the research is to further develop AI so that it reliably recognizes known patterns and highlights abnormalities that require special attention.
Prof. Dr. Ledig emphasizes in the article that artificial intelligence can provide valuable support, especially for routine tasks. This gives doctors more time to concentrate on complex and demanding diagnoses. At the same time, he makes it clear that AI is not a substitute for medical expertise, but a tool that complements human capabilities.
The new director of the Institute of Pathology at Nuremberg Hospital, Prof. Dr. Jens Neumann, also believes that pathology is at a turning point. In view of rising case numbers, the increasing complexity of medical findings, and the shortage of skilled workers, digitization will play a central role. Nevertheless, the final decision will always remain with humans, especially where experience, intuition, and responsibility are required.
The article also highlights the challenges associated with the use of new technologies, such as lengthy approval procedures and high data protection requirements. At the same time, it highlights the potential that lies in closer cooperation between medicine and computer science. The joint project between Nuremberg Hospital and the University of Bamberg has already produced several theses and is to be further expanded with the aim of improving patient care in the long term.