Radiologists can provide a more holistic assessment than machines can. Each scan is supposed to have a reason for being ordered, such as “rule out lung cancer” for a chest X-ray. A narrow AI algorithm could prove to be exceptionally accurate for ruling out or pointing toward the diagnosis of lung cancer. But, in contrast, the radiologist not only scours the film for evidence of a lung nodule or lymph node enlargement but also looks for other abnormalities such as rib fractures, calcium deposits, heart enlargement, and fluid collections.
