Diagnosis by Artificial Intelligence

May help avoid risky biopsies

Abdominal ultrasound is a vital tool in the initial evaluation of feline gastrointestinal (GI) diseases, including two common conditions that afflict cats, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and GI lymphoma. However, ultrasound cannot distinguish between IBD and lymphoma in cats, which requires a biopsy, which carries risks.

In a study funded by the Cornell Feline Health Center, Parminder S. Basran, PhD, FCCPM, Associate Research Professor, Section of Medical Oncology, at Cornell University’s College of Veterinary Medicine is looking at how artificial intelligence (AI) may be used to enhance what we can learn through abdominal ultrasounds. AI has been used to diagnose human diseases.

This study will investigate the application of AI analysis of abdominal ultrasound (AU)images in cats with biopsy-confirmed diagnoses of IBD and GI lymphoma to determine whether it can be used to improve the ability of AU to distinguish these two diseases.