Using Artificial Intelligence in Medical Imaging: A First Step Tutorial with Python Code Examples
Tags: python, ai, healthcare, tutorial
Published: 2022-12-11 04:40:00

---
title: Using Artificial Intelligence in Medical Imaging: A First Step Tutorial with Python Code Examples
published: true
description: In this tutorial, we will explore the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in medical imaging. We will discuss the benefits of using AI algorithms to analyze medical images, and provide Python code examples to help you get started using AI in your own medical imaging applications. We will also discuss the importance of Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) in the development of AI systems for medical imaging.
tags: python, ai, healthcare, tutorial
cover_image: https://miro.medium.com/max/1400/1*Q8Db2atQhgBmFKsNmCjOYQ.webp
published_at: 2022-12-11 04:40 +0000
---

Artificial intelligence (AI) has made [significant strides in the field of medical imaging](https://medium.com/oppr/using-cornerstonejs-and-orthanc-to-support-deep-learning-projects-c9675819c33a), allowing doctors and other medical professionals to better diagnose and treat their patients. One key area where AI has been particularly effective is in the detection and diagnosis of diseases and conditions such as cancer and heart disease. AI algorithms are able to analyze medical images, such as X-rays, MRIs, and CT scans, and identify patterns and abnormalities that may indicate the presence of a particular condition. This can be done much more quickly and accurately than by a human alone [1, 2, 3], allowing doctors to make more informed decisions about their patients' care.

In addition to improving diagnostic accuracy, AI in medical imaging can also help reduce the workload of medical professionals. By automating some of the more routine tasks involved in analyzing medical images, doctors, and other healthcare workers can focus on more important aspects of patient care. Another essential area [between both AI and medical imaging fields is Human-Computer Interaction (HCI)](https://medium.com/oppr/applying-new-paradigms-in-human-computer-interaction-to-health-informatics-86d6a7046130) to study how we can achieve [higher interpretability](https://ai.stackexchange.com/q/10189/21729) of the AI outcomes. HCI is a field of study that focuses on how humans interact with computers and other technology. It is a significant aspect of the development of AI systems for medical imaging, as it helps ensure that these systems are easy to use and understand by medical professionals. By designing AI systems with [intuitive interfaces and clear instructions](https://medium.com/oppr/medical-imaging-downloader-for-cornerstonejs-and-orthanc-d08c3a508d9b), developers can ensure that medical professionals are able to use them effectively and efficiently during their [medical practice](https://medicalsciences.stackexchange.com/a/29126/8844).

## Tutorial

In this tutorial, we will explore how to use AI in medical imaging. By leveraging the power of AI algorithms, medical professionals can improve the accuracy and efficiency of their work. In this article, we will provide [Python code examples](https://stackoverflow.com/a/69540945/2371987) that show how to use AI algorithms to analyze medical images and make more informed decisions about patient care. We will also discuss the importance of HCI in the development of AI systems for medical imaging.

The code uses the [pydicom](https://pydicom.github.io/) library to read a [DICOM](https://www.dicomstandard.org/) image from a file. DICOM (Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine) is the standard format for storing and transmitting medical images. It is commonly used in hospitals and other healthcare settings.

The first step in the code is to import the pydicom library:

```Python
import pydicom
```

Next, we use the `dcmread()` function from the pydicom library to read the DICOM image from a file:

```Python
image = pydicom.dcmread('medical_image.dcm')
```

The `dcmread()` function takes the file path of the DICOM image as an argument, and returns the image data as a `Dataset` object. The `Dataset` object contains the pixel data for the image, as well as metadata about the image, such as its dimensions, resolution, and other information.

Once we have read the DICOM image, we can pass it to the AI algorithm for analysis:

```Python
results = AI_algorithm.analyze(image)
```

The AI algorithm will use its pre-trained model to analyze the image and identify any patterns or abnormalities that may be present. The results of the analysis are returned as a `Result` object, which contains the findings of the algorithm.

Finally, we print the results of the analysis to the console:

```Python
print(results)
```

This code provides a simple example of how to use an AI algorithm to analyze a DICOM image. In a real-world application, the results of the analysis would be used by medical professionals to make decisions about the patient's care.

Here is the final revised version of the code that uses the pydicom library to read a DICOM image:

```Python
import pydicom

# Load the DICOM image
image = pydicom.dcmread('medical_image.dcm')

# Use the AI algorithm to analyze the image
results = AI_algorithm.analyze(image)

# Print the results
print(results)
```

## Acknowledgments

This post is supported by the [case studies](https://github.com/MIMBCD-UI/meta/wiki) of [MIMBCD-UI](https://mimbcd-ui.github.io/), [MIDA](https://mida-project.github.io/), and [BreastScreening](https://breastscreening.github.io/) projects at [IST](http://tecnico.ulisboa.pt/) from [ULisboa](https://www.ulisboa.pt/). The three projects are strongly sponsored by [FCT](https://www.fct.pt/), a [Portuguese](https://www.portugal.gov.pt/) public agency that promotes science, technology, and innovation, in all scientific domains. The genesis of this post was a research work between [ISR-Lisboa](http://welcome.isr.tecnico.ulisboa.pt/) and [ITI](https://iti.larsys.pt/), both associated laboratories of [LARSyS](http://larsys.pt/). From these institutions, I would like to convey a special thanks to Professor [Jacinto C. Nascimento](http://users.isr.ist.utl.pt/~jan/) and Professor [Nuno Nunes](http://nunonunes.info/) for advising me during my research work.

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## References

[1] Francisco Maria Calisto, Nuno Nunes, Jacinto C. Nascimento, Modeling adoption of intelligent agents in medical imaging, International Journal of Human-Computer Studies, Volume 168, 2022, 102922, ISSN 1071-5819, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhcs.2022.102922

[2] Francisco Maria Calisto, Carlos Santiago, Nuno Nunes, Jacinto C. Nascimento, BreastScreening-AI: Evaluating medical intelligent agents for human-AI interactions, Artificial Intelligence in Medicine, Volume 127, 2022, 102285, ISSN 0933-3657, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.artmed.2022.102285

[3] Francisco Maria Calisto, Carlos Santiago, Nuno Nunes, Jacinto C. Nascimento, Introduction of human-centric AI assistant to aid radiologists for multimodal breast image classification, International Journal of Human-Computer Studies, Volume 150, 2021, 102607, ISSN 1071-5819, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhcs.2021.102607