AI prenatal scans are faster and as accurate, study finds

Artificial intelligence is being hailed as a potential game-changer in prenatal care, cutting down the time it takes to identify foetal abnormalities by almost half, according to a groundbreaking new study.

- JANE KIRBY

Researchers at King’s College London and Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust found as well as being faster, AI is just as accurate as traditional methods, offering the potential to revolutionise the 20-week scan.

The technology, tested in the first trial of its kind, could significantly reduce scan times, easing anxiety for expectant parents and freeing up sonographers to focus on potential problem areas.

Published in NEJM AI and funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), the study revealed AI scans were 42 per cent faster than standard scans. The key to the AI’s speed and accuracy lies in its ability to take thousands of snapshots of each foetal measurement, compared to the three typically taken by a sonographer.

The AI also proved more reliable than human sonographers in taking these crucial measurements. This improved accuracy offers the potential for earlier detection of potential issues, allowing medical professionals to intervene sooner if required.