Sarasota (Fla.) Memorial Health Care System achieved a 75% early lung cancer diagnosis rate through its expanded detection program.
The program uses AI to identify incidental findings documented in more than 430,000 radiology reports each year, according to an April 14 system news release. When radiologists submit their report, the tool flags abnormalities and at-risk patients. Those records then go to the lung team for further review. The team can initiate and coordinate follow-up appointments.
Between 2022 and 2025, the early detection team evaluated more than 9,000 patients and diagnosed 144 lung cancers, with 67% diagnosed at stage 1 or 2. In 2025 alone, the team diagnosed 53 cancers, with 75% being in stage 1 or 2.
These rates are more than double the national average of 28% for early detection, the release said.
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