CAD — Computer-Aided Detection/Diagnosis

What Is CAD?

CAD (Computer-Aided Detection/Diagnosis) is software that uses algorithms — increasingly based on artificial intelligence and deep learning — to analyze medical images and flag potential abnormalities for radiologist review. It is important to note that CAD is NOT autonomous diagnosis: it aids the radiologist, who makes the final clinical decision.

The most established CAD applications include breast lesion detection in mammography, lung nodule identification in chest X-ray and CT, and pulmonary embolism detection in CT angiography. These tools act as a "second pair of eyes" that complements the radiologist's expertise, reducing missed findings and improving reading consistency.

Vendors like GE, Fujifilm (with its REiLI platform), and Philips offer CAD solutions integrated into their imaging systems. Integration is achieved through standard DICOM interfaces and, more recently, through IHE profiles that standardize communication between the PACS and AI algorithms.

Why It Matters in Healthcare

• Reduced missed findings: CAD detects subtle abnormalities that might be overlooked during high-volume reading sessions.
• Diagnostic consistency: improves uniformity across different radiologists and work shifts.
• Intelligent prioritization: some CAD systems reorder the reading worklist, placing studies with critical findings at the top.
• Support amid radiologist shortages: in Latin America, where specialized radiologists are scarce, CAD helps maintain diagnostic quality.
• AI evolution: deep learning algorithms progressively outperform traditional rule-based CAD, with continuous improvements in accuracy.

How Davix Relates to CAD

• The Davix PACS/RIS supports integration with third-party AI and CAD algorithms through standard DICOM interfaces.
• Open architecture allows incorporating CAD solutions from different vendors based on each department's needs.
• CAD results are presented directly in the Davix diagnostic viewer, integrated into the radiologist's workflow.
• Support for IHE AI integration profiles, facilitating adoption of new algorithms as technology evolves.
• Integration with the radiology reporting workflow, allowing CAD findings to be referenced in the final report.

Enhance diagnostic accuracy in your imaging department. Explore Davix PACS/RIS and its capabilities for AI and CAD integration.