New artificial intelligence technology is helping diagnose the U.S.’s most deadly cancer sooner, greatly improving the chances of patients’ survival.

The key? Detecting tiny lung nodules when doctors aren’t screening for cancer, and automating and streamlining follow-up care. While most incidentally-discovered lung nodules turn out to be noncancerous, some become malignant over time.

The importance of catching lung cancer early is clear: The five-year survival rate for non-small cell lung cancer when detected in localized Stage 1 is 67%. However, most lung cancer is diagnosed after it has spread to other organs, when the five-year rate is 12%, according to the American Cancer Society .

Inova Schar Cancer Institute , based in Fairfax, Virginia, is one forward-thinking cancer center ha

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