Role of Artificial Intelligence in Detecting Pneumothorax and Cardiomegaly in Chest X-rays: An Observational Study

Introduction: Pneumothorax and cardiomegaly are pathological conditions affecting the respiratory and cardiovascular systems, respectively. Early and accurate detection of these abnormalities in Chest X-rays (CXR) is crucial for timely intervention and improved patient outcomes. Artificial Intelligence (AI) has emerged as a promising tool in medical imaging, showing potential in automating the detection of various abnormalities. Aim: To investigate the effectiveness of AI-based algorithms in the assessment of pneumothorax and cardiomegaly through the analysis of CXR images. Materials and Methods: This was a prospective observational study conducted at the Radiology Department of Dr. Pinnamaneni Siddhartha Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Foundation (PSIMS and RF), Vijaywada, Andhra Pradesh, India, from July 2024 to November 2024. A total of 200 patients who were referred to the Radiology Department for CXR evaluation as part of their clinical assessment were included in the study. The study utilised the DeepTek’s Augmento AI model for interpreting CXRs of patients presenting to the emergency department with chest pain or shortness of breath. The sensitivity, specificity, Positive Predictive Value (PPV) and Negative Predictive Value (NPV) of the DeepTek’s Augmento AI model were calculated for its ability to detect pneumothorax and cardiomegaly in chest radiographs. Results: The AI model exhibited 91% sensitivity, 100% specificity, 100% PPV and 97% NPV in detecting the pneumothorax, and 89.5% sensitivity, 100% specificity, 100% PPV and 95% NPV in detecting the cardiomegaly in chest radiographs. Conclusion: The study demonstrates that the DeepTek’s Augmento AI model exhibit high sensitivity and specificity in detecting both pneumothorax and cardiomegaly on CXRs.