PGI, IIT Delhi Develop AI-Powered Breast Cancer Detection Tool

By providing an AI-assisted second opinion, the technology could help improve consistency in image interpretation, reduce false-positive findings, and potentially limit unnecessary invasive procedures.

Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) and IIT Delhi have partnered to develop an AI-powered breast cancer detection tool tailored to Indian women.

The system is being trained on local patient data and is designed to support mammography interpretation and improve detection in dense breast tissue.

Doctors at PGI have signed a memorandum of understanding with IIT Delhi to develop an indigenous AI system for early breast cancer detection. The project has entered the trial phase and is using patient data from PGI to build and validate the technology for Indian clinical settings.

“Breast cancer in Indian women often develops at a younger age, frequently appearing in their 20s and 30s, and is typically characterised by denser breast tissue, making standard mammography less effective,” said Prof Veenu Singla of the Department of Radiodiagnosis & Imaging, PGI, who has been working on such initiatives.

The AI-powered breast cancer technology currently uses a compact hardware device connected to a computer, allowing digital mammography images to be analysed on a screen.

The developers are also working to expand the technology beyond conventional mammography to include breast tomosynthesis, which produces three-dimensional images of breast tissue, and ultrasound videos.

For ultrasound, the planned AI capability will identify hidden tissue abnormalities in real time and help differentiate fluid-filled benign cysts from solid tumours.

The technology is intended to provide radiologists with an additional layer of clinical support, particularly when dense breast tissue makes abnormalities more difficult to identify through conventional imaging.

“Once fully developed and validated, the creators plan to deploy this 'Make in India' solution to healthcare centres across the country to improve nationwide breast cancer screening,” said Prof Veenu.

By providing an AI-assisted second opinion, the PGI and IIT Delhi technology could help improve consistency in image interpretation, reduce false-positive findings, and potentially limit unnecessary invasive procedures such as needle biopsies.

Once developed and clinically validated, the “Make in India” solution is expected to be suitable for deployment across healthcare centres.

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