In Italy, approximately one in eight women may develop breast cancer during their lifetime, making it one of the most frequently diagnosed cancers among women. Each year, over 53,000 new cases are reported, emphasizing the importance of early detection and prevention. As of March 2025, 73% of women participate in mammography screening, which is crucial for early diagnosis.
In recent years, artificial intelligence has emerged as a game-changer in the field of breast cancer diagnostics. It is increasingly capable of identifying small neoplastic lesions that may escape detection by the human eye. This technological advancement is not only limited to traditional imaging but has also expanded into liquid biopsies, a sophisticated diagnostic procedure that can detect traces of tumor DNA and evaluate the risk of disease recurrence.
The role of AI in this realm was a focal point of a national conference entitled “Evoluzione tecnologica e intelligenza artificiale in diagnostica senologica. Stato dell'arte e prospettive future,” held recently at the Isola Tiberina-Gemelli Isola hospital in Rome. Radiologists attending the conference issued a stern warning regarding the limitations of current screening methods, stating that for women with dense breasts, standard mammography might not suffice.
According to Ettore Squillaci, the head of the Imaging Diagnostics Unit at Isola Tiberina-Gemelli Isola hospital, AI systems are beginning to find their place within Italy's secondary breast cancer prevention programs. “The new software is already a reality in secondary breast cancer prevention programs in Italy,” Squillaci remarked. “AI helps us manage the enormous amount of data that advanced diagnostic tools generate. These technologies are currently operational at a limited number of health centers but are expected to be available in all reference oncology centers within three years.”
This transition is set to radically enhance accessibility to AI capabilities for more patients. Squillaci emphasized, “Regional oncology networks will allow us to amplify the application of AI, making it accessible to a growing number of patients.” Notably, advanced AI algorithms can even be integrated with existing mammography machines, allowing for maximum efficiency with relatively low investment costs. This means a greater number of women can be examined in shorter time frames while receiving highly accurate information regarding their health.
Thanks to advancements in therapy and secondary prevention programs, survival rates for breast cancer continue to improve. Squillaci noted, “This progress is paired with constant improvements in diagnostic equipment, from mammograms to MRI, which, bolstered by AI and new contrast agents, allow for more precise and quick diagnoses for a larger cohort of patients.” Detecting breast cancer at very small sizes is increasingly possible, thereby making secondary prevention indispensable in transforming breast cancer into a treatable condition, one that should not invoke fear.
The conference dedicated significant attention to the theme of prevention, featuring contributions from patient associations and institutional representatives. Despite the positive advancements, Squillaci warned, “The benefits brought by technology risk being diminished if we do not increase the number of women who regularly undergo mammography. In Italy, one in four women aged 50 to 69 has not undergone mammography, whether voluntarily or through organized regional screening programs.”
This data is particularly alarming given that over 70% of women diagnosed with breast cancer can achieve a full recovery, with early detection considerably increasing the odds of successful treatment. “As specialists, we renew our call to all women in our country to embrace breast cancer prevention measures,” Squillaci concluded.
Looking ahead, the integration of artificial intelligence in the screening and diagnostic process is poised to drastically alter breast cancer outcomes in Italy, promising greater accuracy and, ultimately, higher survival rates.
