159: What If Your AI Tool Is Lying: Hidden Bias in Pathology Algorithms

Digital Pathology Podcast

Content provided by Aleksandra Zuraw, DVM, PhD, Aleksandra Zuraw, and DVM. All podcast content including episodes, graphics, and podcast descriptions are uploaded and provided directly by Aleksandra Zuraw, DVM, PhD, Aleksandra Zuraw, and DVM or their podcast platform partner. If you believe someone is using your copyrighted work without your permission, you can follow the process outlined here https://podcastplayer.com/legal.

11d ago 27:49

MP3•Episode home

Send us a text

What if the AI tools we trust for cancer diagnosis are not always correct? This episode of DigiPath Digest takes on the uncomfortable but critical question: can AI “lie” to us—and how do we verify its performance before adopting it in clinical practice?

Highlights:

[00:02:00] Foundation models in action: Deployment of a fine-tuned pathology foundation model for EGFR biomarker detection in lung cancer—reducing the need for rapid molecular tests by 43%.
[00:08:41] Bone marrow AI misclassifications: Why automated digital morphology still struggles with consistency across leukemia and lymphoma cases.
[00:14:45] Lossy DICOM conversion: How file format changes can subtly—but significantly—affect AI model performance.
[00:21:45] Federated tumor segmentation challenge: Coordinating 32 international institutions to benchmark healthcare AI fairly across diverse datasets.
[00:27:47] AI in gynecologic cytology: Reviewing AI-driven Pap smear screening—promise, limitations, and why rigorous validation remains essential.
[00:32:27] Takeaway: Trust but verify—AI tools must be validated before they can support or replace clinical decisions.

Resources from this Episode

Nature Medicine – Fine-tuned pathology foundation model for lung cancer EGFR biomarker detection.
Scientific Reports (Germany) – Study on how DICOM conversion impacts AI performance in digital pathology.
Federated Tumor Segmentation Challenge – Benchmarking AI across 32 global institutions.
Acta Cytologica – Review on AI in gynecologic cytology and Pap smear screening.

Support the show

Become a Digital Pathology Trailblazer get the "Digital Pathology 101" FREE E-book and join us!

Chapters

1. Introduction to AI reliability concerns (00:00:00)

2. Lung cancer biomarker detection success (00:00:46)

3. AI misclassification in bone marrow analysis (00:06:28)

4. DICOM conversion affecting AI performance (00:11:36)

5. Federated benchmarking across institutions (00:17:14)

6. AI in gynecologic cytology screening (00:21:00)

7. Verify before trust conclusion (00:26:36)

160 episodes

#Science #Tech #Natural Sciences #Aleksandra Zuraw, DVM, PhD #Aleksandra Zuraw #DVM #Pathology #Digital #Image #Analysis #Artificial #Intelligence #Pharma #Pharmaceutical #Healthcare #Veterinary #Clinical #Fitness #Medicine