Press Releases | June 27, 2024 |

Visiopharm and UMC Utrecht achieve breakthrough in AI-powered detection of breast cancer lymph node metastases 

Hørsholm, Denmark — Visiopharm, a leader in AI-driven precision pathology, proudly announces a significant achievement. The Pathology Department of the University Medical Center Utrecht (UMC Utrecht) in the Netherlands has validated Visiopharm’s AI application for detecting metastatic breast cancer in lymph nodes in their CONFIDENT-B trial. The AI achieved a remarkable 100% sensitivity for clinically relevant metastases, while at the same time the AI-assisted pathologists spent 39% less time on their assessment compared to reviews without the AI. This advancement promises to revolutionize pathology workflows. 

The UMC Utrecht team’s study, demonstrating the exceptional performance of Visiopharm’s AI APP, has been published in the prestigious journal, Nature Cancer. This publication underscores the potential of AI in transforming cancer diagnostics by showcasing the high sensitivity for clinically relevant metastases, the significant reduction of the need for immunohistochemistry, and the workflow-improvements achieved with Visiopharm’s technology. 

In addition to the publication, UMC Utrecht conducted a comprehensive business case analysis, revealing that the use of Visiopharm’s AI APP results in a positive business case with a significant return on investment. These savings are indicative of the efficiency and financial benefits that AI technology can bring to pathology departments. 

Furthermore, Visiopharm’s AI APP has been seamlessly integrated into UMC Utrecht’s Sectra PACS, creating an automated and efficient workflow for pathologists. Once a slide is scanned, it is automatically analyzed in the background, and the results are available in the Sectra viewer when the pathologist opens the case. This integration ensures that pathologists have immediate access to crucial diagnostic information, streamlining the diagnostic process, reducing turnaround times, and enhancing overall workflow efficiency. 

Prof. Paul van Diest, head of the pathology department at UMC Utrecht, expressed his enthusiasm: “The integration of AI technology into our pathology workflow represents a significant advancement in our diagnostic capabilities. The high sensitivity achieved, along with the substantial cost savings and workflow improvements, underscore the potential of AI in transforming cancer diagnostics. We are currently validating Visiopharm’s AI applications for other indications and the initial results are promising. 

Dirk Vossen, Chief Diagnostics Officer at Visiopharm, added: “We are thrilled with the results of the UMC Utrecht’s clinical implementation study and the subsequent publication in Nature Cancer. This exemplifies the power of combining cutting-edge AI technology with clinical expertise to enhance diagnostic accuracy and efficiency. The results published validate the earlier work by Anil Parwani that the Visiopharm AI tools provide a positive business case (Challa et al.). We look forward to continuing our partnership with UMC Utrecht and other leading institutions to further advance the field of pathology.” 

This milestone reinforces Visiopharm’s commitment to providing innovative AI solutions that enhance diagnostic precision and operational efficiency in pathology labs worldwide.

Read the full paper here.

Feature photo by Ivar Pel.

For more information, please contact: 

Visiopharm:
Johanne Louise Brændgaard
Chief Marketing Officer
jlb@visiopharm.com

About Visiopharm

Visiopharm is a leading provider of AI-driven precision pathology software for research and diagnostics. In research, it is a technology leader providing tools that help scientists, pathologists, and image analysis experts produce accurate data for all types of tissue-based research. In diagnostics, it is a leader within clinical applications, with no fewer than nine diagnostic algorithms cleared under IVDR for EU and UK customers. These applications provide diagnostic decision support and can be easily activated and integrated into existing lab workflows. Founded in 2002, Visiopharm is privately owned and operates internationally with over 750 customer accounts in more than 40 countries. The company’s headquarters are located in Denmark’s Medicon Valley, with legal entities in Sweden, the UK, Germany, the Netherlands, and the United States, and local representation in France and China.

For more information visit visiopharm.com.

About UMC Utrecht: 

The University Medical Center Utrecht (UMC Utrecht) is a leading academic medical center in the Netherlands. UMC Utrecht is dedicated to providing top-tier medical care, conducting groundbreaking research, and offering exceptional education and training for healthcare professionals.

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