Advancements in Breast Cancer Detection: A Review of Global Trends, Risk Factors, Imaging Modalities, Machine Learning, and Deep Learning Approaches

Breast cancer remains a critical global health challenge, with over 2.1 million new cases annually. This review systematically evaluates recent advancements (2022–2024) in machine and deep learning approaches for breast cancer detection and risk management. Our analysis demonstrates that deep learning models achieve 90–99% accuracy across imaging modalities, with convolutional neural networks showing particular promise in mammography (99.96% accuracy) and ultrasound (100% accuracy) applications. Tabular data models using XGBoost achieve comparable performance (99.12% accuracy) for risk prediction. The study confirms that lifestyle modifications (dietary changes, BMI management, and alcohol reduction) significantly mitigate breast cancer risk. Key findings include the following: (1) hybrid models combining imaging and clinical data enhance early detection, (2) thermal imaging achieves high diagnostic accuracy (97–100% in optimized models) while offering a cost-effective, less hazardous screening option, (3) challenges persist in data variability and model interpretability. These results highlight the need for integrated diagnostic systems combining technological innovations with preventive strategies. The review underscores AI’s transformative potential in breast cancer diagnosis while emphasizing the continued importance of risk factor management. Future research should prioritize multi-modal data integration and clinically interpretable models.