Romanian student Dragos Serban has offered an alternative to the brain tumor biopsy in his “A non-invasive approach to brain tumors classification based on their textured pattern in MR images and CT scans” project.

He won the gold medal for this project, at the FirSTep National Contest of Science and Technology organized in Bucharest on February 14. He also qualified for the ISWEEP international project competition in Houston, USA, this May.

He had a bone tumor removed in 2013. This experience inspired and motivated him to make a computer program that gives an immediate verdict on a tumor’s cancerous or benign status.

“I’ve made a project that classifies brain tumors based on their contextual model. More specific, an alternative to brain tumors biopsy. The patient no longer has to do a biopsy, doesn’t have to suffer anymore. One can find immediately if the patient has cancer or not, after an MRI or a computerized tomography,” said Dragos Serban, cited by ziuaconstanta.ro.

“I developed an algorithm based on artificial intelligence that manages to calculate, using mathematical statistics, if a tumor is benign or malignant,” he added. His method has an accuracy of 90%.

However, in order for his method to become a viable alternative for cancer diagnostics, it needs years of independent testing.

Irina Popescu, irina.popescu@romania-insider.com