We are thrilled to share the incredible news that AI-assisted colonoscopies can improve the detection of polyps, particularly when performed by less experienced doctors. This groundbreaking research, conducted by the Chinese University of Hong Kong’s Faculty of Medicine, could pave the way for more accurate diagnosis of colorectal cancers.
Colonoscopies, which involve the insertion of an endoscope into the colon, are essential in detecting and removing premalignant polyps, known as adenomas. Unfortunately, these adenomas can be missed due to their flat shape, poor bowel preparation, and the varying skills of endoscopists.
Lead author Louis H.S. Lau commented, “Our research is significant for the future development of AI in clinical medicine and endoscopic training. Junior endoscopists are generally less skillful and require a higher level of assistance during their initial learning phases. Our research is significant for endoscopic training because it shows that the use of AI provides them with imagery guidance to practice the skills in a more standardized manner. Results confirmed that the innovation helps enhance adenoma detection ability among endoscopists with different levels of experience.”
The study utilized a deep learning system dubbed computer-aided polyp detection (CADe), which has already demonstrated its clinical benefit in real-time adenoma detection. The research involved 22 junior endoscopists with less than 500 endoscopies and less than three years of training. These endoscopists were divided into beginner and intermediate groups based on their experience levels.
Conducted as a single-blind, parallel-group, randomized controlled trial in Hong Kong from April 2021 to July 2022, the study involved participants who were undergoing screening, surveillance, or diagnostic colonoscopies. Results showed that the adenoma detection rate (ADR) was significantly higher in the CADe group (57.5%) compared to the control group (44.5%), with a particularly noticeable improvement in detecting smaller adenomas. We are elated that the use of AI-assisted colonoscopies has had such a positive impact on the detection of polyps!
Though, the researchers noted that the effectiveness of CADe in identifying larger and more advanced adenomas is still uncertain. AI integration into medical diagnostics has seen huge strides in areas like mammography, ultrasound, and MRI, as AI systems can repeatedly apply their analysis to scan after scan without tiring. This research is yet another example of how AI’s practical benefits can save people’s lives. We are so excited to see what the future holds for AI-assisted diagnostics!
