New AI Tool for Lung Cancer Detection Launches in South West England

Key Takeaways

Peninsula Imaging Network has introduced an AI chest CT service across four NHS trusts to expedite lung cancer detection.
The AI technology processes about 1,200 scans weekly and enhances monitoring of lung nodules, which can indicate cancer.
Implemented with support from the government’s AI Diagnostic Fund, this initiative aims to improve early detection and patient outcomes.

Introduction of AI in Lung Cancer Detection

Peninsula Imaging Network (PenRAD) has launched an innovative AI-powered chest CT service across four NHS trusts located in Devon, Cornwall, and the Isles of Scilly. This initiative aims to significantly accelerate the detection of lung cancer through advanced imaging technologies.

The AI technology developed by Qure.ai, known as qCT, was rolled out at five imaging sites under PenRAD during January and February 2025. It is designed to assist radiologists in the early detection and ongoing monitoring of lung nodules—critical indicators of lung cancer. Dr. Tej Pandher, a consultant radiologist at University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust, emphasized the importance of AI in identifying and tracking suspicious nodules, allowing reporting radiologists to contextualize their findings and provide essential follow-up information or treatment options.

Operational Scope and Benefits

The AI service is capable of processing approximately 1,200 chest CT scans each week across multiple sites, including Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust, Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust, and University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust. This comprehensive service caters to a diverse patient base from coastal, rural, and urban areas within the southwest peninsula of England.

Surabhi Srivastava, UK business head at Qure.ai, remarked on the positive implications of the qCT technology for the digital transformation of healthcare in the region. She noted that lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer-related deaths globally, with nearly 75% of patients diagnosed at late stages. Early detection, facilitated by innovations such as qCT, can improve survival rates dramatically, with more than a 90% chance of survival when treatment begins at stage one.

The development of the AI service was supported by the government’s £21 million AI Diagnostic Fund (AIDF). PenRAD selected the qCT solution as part of its proposal to the AIDF, collaborating with Health Innovation Southwest and the Peninsula Cancer Alliance to secure funding and support for the initiative.

Enhanced Monitoring Features

Qure.ai designed the qCT to offer clinical decision support through its advanced capabilities in detecting, characterizing, quantifying, and monitoring lung nodules effectively. The system can retrieve patient images from prior examinations, facilitating a thorough approach to nodule management and progression monitoring over time. This feature aids clinicians in assessing the growth of nodules using standardized volumetry data and automatically assigning malignancy risk scores based on established guidelines from the Brock model and the British Thoracic Society.

In related updates, the Peninsula Pathology Network recently entered into a partnership with Exponential-e to establish a secure private cloud environment. This four-year contract, which began in February 2024, went live in February 2025, enhancing the network’s digital infrastructure alongside the AI diagnostic initiatives.

In summary, the deployment of PenRAD’s AI-powered chest CT service represents a significant advance in lung cancer detection efforts, harnessing technology to improve patient outcomes and streamline the diagnostic process.

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