A new artificial intelligence tool is being rolled out in hospitals across Greater Manchester to help doctors diagnose prostate cancer faster, a condition often described as a 'silent killer' because it shows no symptoms in its early stages.
AI Tool to Prioritise Urgent Cases
The AI technology is being introduced at hospitals in Wigan, Bolton, Stockport and Salford as part of a pilot led by Greater Manchester Cancer Alliance. The tool analyses prostate MRI scans using NHS data to flag scans that are most likely to show cancer, allowing radiologists to prioritise patients at highest risk.
Dr Rhidian Bramley, a consultant radiologist and Clinical Lead for AI at Greater Manchester Cancer Alliance, said: “This tool supports our radiologists by highlighting the scans most likely to show prostate cancer, helping us identify and rule out the disease more quickly.”
Improving Early Detection
Prostate cancer affects one in eight men and is the most common cancer in men in the UK. Around half of prostate cancers are still diagnosed at a late stage after the disease has already spread. Early detection dramatically improves outcomes, so the new AI system aims to speed up this process and improve accuracy.
Mr Jeremy Oates, a prostate cancer surgeon and Clinical Lead for Prostate Cancer at Greater Manchester Cancer Alliance, said: “This is an exciting development for patients and clinicians. This technology has the potential to improve detection of early-stage prostate cancers.”
Rollout Across Four NHS Trusts
The tool is being rolled out across four NHS trusts in the region, including Salford Royal Hospital, Stepping Hill Hospital, Royal Bolton Hospital, and Royal Albert Edward Infirmary, Wrightington Hospital and Leigh Community Diagnostic Centre.
Mr Sotonye Tolofari, consultant urological surgeon at Salford Royal, said: “In Greater Manchester, we have long been committed to improving the early detection of prostate cancer and this AI tool supports that ambition by helping us streamline pathways and prioritise those men most at risk.”
Commitment to Innovation
Professor Sanjay Arya OBE, Chief Medical Officer for WWL, said: “We are very excited at WWL to be part of this innovation, and it is a privilege to be part of the roll out across Greater Manchester.”
Other pilots are also taking place in Yorkshire, East England and the South West.
