Medical News Observer

Key Points:

• By analyzing every pixel in real-time, AI technology assists doctors in identifying hard-to-see polyps during colonoscopies, increasing adenoma detection rates significantly.
• Conducted across 10 hospitals with 916 patients, the study found that AI-augmented procedures notably outperformed traditional colonoscopies in identifying adenomas without raising the rate of non-adenomatous lesion removal.
• Using AI to detect polyps more effectively could lead to more targeted and efficient colorectal cancer screenings. However, challenges such as cost and developing suitable reimbursement models remain.

A groundbreaking study published by Radboud University Medical Center in The Lancet Digital Health reveals the significant impact of computer-aided polyp detection on colonoscopies. Utilizing AI, doctors can now detect 40% more polyps, the precursors to colorectal cancer. This discovery is crucial since a significant number of populations globally undergo colonoscopies annually to find and remove these potentially dangerous growths.

Colonoscopy: The Role of AI In Polyp Detection

AI’s role in improving polyp detection is a game-changer. By assisting doctors during colonoscopies, the AI system analyzes every pixel of the camera’s images, ensuring no detail is missed. This level of precision comes from the AI’s ability to remain vigilant at every moment, providing an added layer of scrutiny that surpasses human capability. 

Study Findings

The study involved 916 patients treated by 31 endoscopists across 10 hospitals and compared traditional colonoscopy procedures with those augmented by AI developed by Magentiq Eye LTD. The AI-assisted procedures utilized a smart computer to live-monitor the examination, highlighting suspicious areas with a purple square to prompt further inspection by the doctor. Results indicated that AI-assisted computer-aided polyp detection significantly improved adenoma detection rates per colonoscopy compared to traditional methods without increasing the removal of non-adenomatous lesions.

Implications

These findings suggest that AI-assisted computer-aided polyp detection could enhance the effectiveness of colonoscopy screenings by increasing adenoma detection and reducing oversight without additional unnecessary interventions.

The AI system, developed by Magentiq Eye LTD, uses thousands of colonoscopy images and videos for training, making it a powerful tool in the fight against colorectal cancer. However, its adoption faces challenges, including costs and the development of reimbursement models for AI-assisted medical examinations.

Future research will focus on enhancing the AI’s capabilities, such as assessing the danger level of detected polyps. This advancement could allow doctors to leave harmless polyps in place. Thus reducing the need for pathological analysis, complications, and healthcare costs.

Conclusion

Integrating AI into colonoscopy procedures represents a significant advancement in medical technology. By enabling the detection of more polyps, AI aids in the early prevention of colorectal cancer, ultimately saving lives and reducing healthcare costs. As technology and reimbursement models evolve, the widespread adoption of this AI-assisted method could revolutionize colorectal cancer screening and treatment.

References

• Maas, Michiel H. J., Helmut Neumann, Haim Shirin, Lior H. Katz, Ariel A. Benson, Arslan Kahloon, Elsa Soons, et al. “A Computer-Aided Polyp Detection System in Screening and Surveillance Colonoscopy: An International, Multicentre, Randomised, Tandem Trial.” The Lancet Digital Health 6, no. 3 (March 1, 2024): e157–65. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2589-7500(23)00242-X.
• Penna, Sreeram. “AI/ML: Magentiq Eye Automatic Polyp Detection System (ME-APDS).” Medical News Observer, November 6, 2023. https://medicalnewsobserver.com/2023/11/06/ai-ml-magentiq-eyes-automatic-polyp-detection-system-me-apds/