AI Reduces Fetal Scan Times by 42% in Study

A recent study published in NEJM AI reveals that artificial intelligence (AI) can significantly expedite the 20-week pregnancy screening scan, reducing scan times by over 40% while maintaining diagnostic accuracy. Conducted by researchers at King’s College London and Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, the trial involved 78 pregnant women and 58 sonographers, with participants being scanned twice—once with AI assistance and once without. The use of AI not only shortened the scan duration but also allowed sonographers to concentrate more on patient interaction and areas of concern, potentially alleviating parental anxiety. The AI technology enhances measurement reliability by capturing thousands of snapshots for fetal assessments, compared to just three taken by human sonographers. Dr. Thomas Day, the lead author, emphasized that these advancements could improve prenatal care and facilitate earlier medical intervention if abnormalities are detected. This groundbreaking research positions AI as a transformative tool in prenatal diagnostics.