JLK, a leading medical artificial intelligence (AI) company led by CEO Kim Dongmin, announced on August 25 that its AI-based stroke analysis solution, 'JLK-CTL,' has demonstrated clinical value that could revolutionize emergency stroke diagnosis.
The results of a performance validation study for JLK-CTL, which rapidly and accurately predicts large vessel occlusion (LVO) in the anterior circulation using only non-contrast CT (NCCT) images-without the use of contrast agents-were published in the latest issue of the SCI-level international journal 'Stroke: Vascular and Interventional Neurology.'
This large-scale, multicenter clinical study was led by Professor Jung Jongwon of Samsung Medical Center and Professor Kim Beomjun of Seoul National University Bundang Hospital as primary authors. It was conducted using data from 534 acute stroke patients across six major stroke centers in Korea. According to the study, JLK-CTL predicted large vessel occlusion with a high accuracy of 85.9% (AUC 0.859), and demonstrated excellent performance with a sensitivity of 78.7% and specificity of 83.2%.
Stroke, especially large vessel occlusion, is a hyperacute condition where every second counts, and rapid diagnosis and treatment are critical in determining patient outcomes. Although non-contrast CT, the current standard emergency room test, is highly accessible, it has limitations in diagnosing large vessel occlusion due to the difficulty in detecting subtle changes in tone or hyperdense artery signs, which are key indicators.
JLK-CTL delivers medical innovation at this crucial point. The AI analyzes non-contrast CT images within seconds and provides a score (JLK-CTL LVO Score) indicating the likelihood of large vessel occlusion. This enables medical professionals to quickly identify patients who urgently require additional tests such as angiography and make timely treatment decisions.
Notably, the study found that higher JLK-CTL scores were associated with larger actual infarct volumes and poorer long-term patient outcomes, demonstrating its potential as not only a diagnostic aid but also a prognostic tool.
Professor Jung Jongwon, the primary author of the study and a neurologist at Samsung Medical Center, emphasized, "This study is significant in proving how useful JLK-CTL can be in real emergency medical settings where vascular imaging may be delayed due to time and space constraints. By enabling early screening of large vessel occlusion patients using only non-contrast CT through AI, it facilitates rapid transfer to hospitals capable of thrombectomy and ultimately improves patient outcomes. This could become a crucial tool in transforming the paradigm of stroke treatment."
JLK stated that the study also proved the high versatility and stability of JLK-CTL, as it showed consistent performance across images taken with CT equipment from different manufacturers. Based on these results, the company plans to accelerate global regulatory approvals, including from the US FDA and European CE, and supply leading AI solutions to the global stroke diagnosis market.
JLK's Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Ryu Wiseon said, "JLK-CTL will play a key role in maintaining the 'golden hour' by dramatically improving the accuracy and speed of diagnosis, even in medical environments lacking skilled imaging specialists. Based on the technological capabilities proven by this study, we will focus all our efforts on expanding into overseas markets and broadening our sales channels."
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