Cancer3.AIAI in OncologyAI Models › Sybil
Task-specific model Open weights Research use only radiology

Sybil

Deep-learning model that predicts an individual's risk of lung cancer over the next one to six years from a single low-dose chest CT, without radiologist annotations or clinical variables.

At a glance

DeveloperMIT Jameel Clinic / Massachusetts General Hospital
Released2023-01-12
LicenceMIT
AvailabilityOpen weights
KindTask-specific model
Regulatory statusResearch use only

What it does

Takes the full LDCT volume and outputs calibrated risk for years 1–6. It is a risk stratifier for screening programmes (who needs a shorter interval), not a nodule detector.

Notable uses in oncology

Validated on three independent cohorts (NLST test set, Massachusetts General Hospital, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital in Taiwan); one-year AUCs of 0.92, 0.86 and 0.94 respectively in the JCO paper.

Tasks, data types and cancers

Data typeCT
Clinical settingScreening
Inputfull LDCT series (DICOM), resampled
Outputcumulative risk at years 1–6

Architecture

Family3D convolutional network
Backbone3D ResNet-style encoder with attention pooling; ensemble of 5 models
Pre-trainingsupervised on NLST LDCT with future-cancer labels

Training data

Trained on low-dose CT scans from the National Lung Screening Trial (NLST) with follow-up cancer outcomes; no radiologist labels beyond the trial's outcome data.

Training set sizeNLST training split (thousands of participants; see paper)
InstitutionsNLST (USA)
Populations / geographyNLST: US current/former heavy smokers aged 55–74; external: MGH (USA), CGMH (Taiwan, including never-smokers)

Linked datasets

Evaluation

Benchmark / datasetMetricValueExternal validationSource
NLST held-out test AUC, 1-year risk 0.92 no Source
Massachusetts General Hospital AUC, 1-year risk 0.86 yes Source
Chang Gung Memorial Hospital (Taiwan) AUC, 1-year risk 0.94 yes Source

How to run

LibraryPyTorch (pip package sybil)
HardwareGPU recommended; CPU inference works per scan

pip install sybil; the package downloads the ensemble weights. Input must be a full LDCT series — thick-slice or contrast CTs are outside the validated domain.

Regulatory status and intended use

Regulatory statusResearch use only
Intended useResearch; not cleared for clinical use.

Source →

Regulatory status is quoted from the source linked above and can change. Research-use-only models must not be used for clinical decisions.

Limitations and bias

  • Trained on a screening population of heavy smokers; performance in never-smokers rests on one Taiwanese cohort.
  • Sensitive to acquisition protocol; validate locally before any programme use.

Sources

  1. Mikhael PG et al. Sybil: A Validated Deep Learning Model to Predict Future Lung Cancer Risk From a Single Low-Dose Chest CT. J Clin Oncol 2023
  2. GitHub — reginabarzilaygroup/Sybil

This page is educational — it is not medical advice and does not replace consultation with an oncologist. Diagnostic and treatment decisions are made solely by specialist physicians.