Covid-19 early detection: Neural Networks vs. Radiologists

The COVID-19 pandemic not only made an impact on the discipline of radiology as a whole but also on how we use specific tools in its detection. This was especially seen in the role of chest radiography when it was utilized as a diagnostic tool at the beginning of the pandemic “when microbiological resources were scarce,” evolving into its use focusing on the detection and monitoring of COVID-19 lung involvement. However, the sensitivity of a chest radiograph in the diagnosis of COVID-19 is moderate. Therefore, in this study, the authors compared the performance of a deep learning algorithm (Ensemble4Covid) on the first clinical encounter with a group of radiologists with varying years of experience. The authors were able to show that the performance of Ensemble4Covid from the onset of the disease was considerably higher compared to the radiologists.

Key points

  • The sensitivity of COVID-19 detection using conventional CXR depends on the evolution of the disease.
  • Compared to a group of radiologists, AI achieves a higher sensitivity at the onset of the disease.
  • This ability for early detection of COVID-19 could be applied in settings lacking resources, providing an immediate radiological report for each patient studied with CXR. Assistance with this tool could also be supplied by teleradiology in places where there is a lack of microbiological testing.

Article: A comparison of Covid-19 early detection between convolutional neural networks and radiologists

Authors: Alberto Albiol, Francisco Albiol, Roberto Paredes, Juana María Plasencia-Martínez, Ana Blanco Barrio, José M. García Santos, Salvador Tortajada, Victoria M. González Montaño, Clara E. Rodríguez Godoy, Saray Fernández Gómez, Elena Oliver-Garcia, María de la Iglesia Vayá, Francisca L. Márquez Pérez & Juan I. Rayo Madrid

WRITTEN BY

Latest posts

Become A Member Today!

You will have access to a wide range of benefits that can help you advance your career and stay up-to-date with the latest developments in the field of radiology. These benefits include access to educational resources, networking opportunities with other professionals in the field, opportunities to participate in research projects and clinical trials, and access to the latest technologies and techniques. 

Check out our different membership options.

If you don’t find a fitting membership send us an email here.

Membership

for radiologists, radiology residents, professionals of allied sciences (including radiographers/radiological technologists, nuclear medicine physicians, medical physicists, and data scientists) & professionals of allied sciences in training residing within the boundaries of Europe

  • Reduced registration fees for ECR 1
  • Reduced fees for the European School of Radiology (ESOR) 2
  • Exclusive option to participate in the European Diploma. 3
  • Free electronic access to the journal European Radiology 4
  • Content e-mails for all ESR journals
  • Updates on offers & events through our newsletters
  • Exclusive access to the ESR feed in Juisci

€ 11 /year

Yes! That is less than €1 per month.

Free membership

for radiologists, radiology residents or professionals of allied sciences engaged in practice, teaching or research residing outside Europe as well as individual qualified professionals with an interest in radiology and medical imaging who do not fulfil individual or all requirements for any other ESR membership category & former full members who have retired from all clinical practice
  • Reduced registration fees for ECR 1
  • Free electronic access to the journal European Radiology
  • Content e-mails for all 3 ESR journals 4
  • Updates on offers & events through our newsletters
  • Exclusive access to the ESR feed in Juisci

€ 0

The best things in life are free.

ESR Friends

For students, company representatives or hospital managers etc.

  • Content e-mails for all 3 ESR journals 4
  • Updates on offers & events through our newsletters

€ 0

Friendship doesn’t cost a thing.

The membership type best fitting for you will be selected automatically during the application process.

Footnotes:

01

Reduced registration fees for ECR 2024:
Provided that ESR 2023 membership is activated and approved by August 31, 2023.

Reduced registration fees for ECR 2025:
Provided that ESR 2024 membership is activated and approved by August 31, 2024.

02
Not all activities included
03
Examination based on the ESR European Training Curriculum (radiologists or radiology residents).
04
European Radiology, Insights into Imaging, European Radiology Experimental.