Malaysia recently recorded its first lung cancer case detected using artificial intelligence (AI), marking a significant step forward in the country's medical diagnostics. The breakthrough occurred during a routine chest X-ray screening of a 67-year-old male smoker who showed no symptoms. Conducted at a private hospital in the Klang Valley, the scan was analyzed by an AI-powered system, which detected a faint shadow in the upper left lung—something that might have gone unnoticed by human eyes.

Following this AI alert, doctors conducted further tests, including blood work which revealed elevated levels of the CEA tumour marker. A biopsy later confirmed that the patient had early-stage primary lung cancer. Crucially, additional scans confirmed that the cancer had not yet spread. The patient quickly underwent a minimally invasive upper lobectomy with lymph node dissection, performed by renowned cardiothoracic surgeon Prof. Dr. Anand Sachithanandan. Remarkably, he was discharged just three days after the operation.

Dr. Tho Lye Mun, president of the Lung Cancer Network Malaysia (LCNM) and an oncologist, stressed that AI enabled detection before any symptoms appeared, allowing doctors to intervene early. The time from screening to treatment was less than two weeks—an extraordinary timeline that demonstrates the potential of fast, AI-driven diagnosis and therapy.

This success story is the result of a collaboration between Lung Cancer Network Malaysia and AstraZeneca Malaysia, which launched a cloud-based deep-learning AI tool at select private hospitals and the National Cancer Institute in Putrajaya. The initiative began as a community screening pilot in 2020 and expanded in 2023.

This milestone is especially important in Malaysia, where 95% of lung cancer cases are only detected at advanced stages (Stage III or IV). The use of AI for early detection could be a game-changer in reversing this trend. By scaling AI-enabled screening, the healthcare system can potentially save thousands of lives, improve treatment outcomes, and reduce the burden of one of the nation’s deadliest cancers.

Date of Input: 10/03/2025 | Updated: 05/08/2025 | aslamiah