The Diagnostic Imaging Centre (CDI) at the Hospital Clínic Barcelona is making progress in the application of artificial intelligence in clinical practice with the new agreement signed with Qubiotech to use the Neurocloud platform. This is technology for performing neuroimaging analysis in the fields of neuroradiology and nuclear medicine, which will optimize the diagnosis and monitoring of conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease, epilepsy and multiple sclerosis.
Neurocloud applications in the diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease, epilepsy and multiple sclerosis
The tool, which incorporates advanced AI algorithms in MRI and other tools in PET and SISCOM, will allow specialists to analyse data more efficiently and develop new functionalities to improve patient care. In nuclear medicine, for example, Dr Javier Setoain explains that the platform facilitates “the fusion and subtraction of interictal SPECT images from ictal SPECT images (acquired during an epileptic seizure) and co-registers the parametric image onto the patient’s MRI”. He adds that this methodology, known as SISCOM, locates the epileptogenic focus with high precision before surgery. Another application of the platform is the quantification of brain PET scan images, visualizing small epileptogenic lesions, which are often not detected in a conventional visual inspection.
Moreover, Dr Núria Bargalló highlights Neurocloud’s role as an innovative tool in the quantification of brain volumetry, facilitating the diagnosis of cognitive impairment and offering objective and precise data for the monitoring of patients with neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease and other types of dementia. “This technology provides specialists with detailed information for optimizing clinical decision-making”, she explains. In addition, Neurocloud incorporates an advanced tool for quantifying white matter lesions, which is especially useful in patients with multiple sclerosis, offering a more precise assessment and helping to achieve a more accurate diagnosis.
Dr Bargalló also adds that, with the integration of artificial intelligence and machine learning, Neurocloud represents a qualitative leap in radiology and neurology because it provides new quantification capabilities and optimizes the management of neurodegenerative and inflammatory pathologies. This innovation not only improves diagnostic accuracy, but also opens up new opportunities for exploring applications in other neurological diseases.
The integration of AI into neuroimaging analysis, a qualitative leap
This agreement is part of the strategic plan for the implementation and supervision of the use of artificial intelligence in the care process for diagnosis and image-guided interventional treatment at the CDI. This is a commitment to innovation in the field of neuroimaging that will serve to consolidate the Clínic’s dedication to digital transformation in the healthcare sector, and advance towards the development of solutions that improve clinical practice.
