Artificial Intelligence Reduces Miss Rate of Precancerous Popyps in CRC Screening

Most colon polyps are harmless, but some over time develop into colon or rectal cancer, which can be fatal if found in its later stages. Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second most deadly cancer in the world, with an estimated 1.9 million cases and 916,000 deaths worldwide in 2020, according to the WHO. 

In a recently published study, researchers from the Mayo Clinic found a reduced rate of missed precancerous polyps when using artificial intelligence. The results are published in the journal Gastroenterology. 

Artificial Intelligence

For the study patients undergoing CRC screening or surveillance were enrolled in 8 centers across Italy, the UK, and the US, and randomized to undergo 2 same-day, back-to-back colonoscopies with or without artificial intelligence (AI). The study included a total of 230 subjects. 

Adenoma miss rate (AMR) was calculated as the number of histologically-verified lesions detected at the second colonoscopy divided by the total number of lesions detected at the first and second colonoscopy.

The team found that the group using AI had a miss rate of 15.5%, compared to the group without AI use had a 32.4% rate. The AI colonoscopy detected more polyps that were smaller, flatter, and in the proximal and distal colon.

CRC is almost entirely preventable with appropriate screening, and using AI to detect colon polyps could potentially save more lives than current screenings. 

Source:

Rhoda Madson. (2022, Apr 18). AI reduces miss rate of precancerous polyps in colorectal cancer screening 

Wallace MB, et al. Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Miss Rate of Colorectal Neoplasia. Gastroenterology. 2022 Mar 11:S0016-5085(22)00238-4. doi: 10.1053/j.gastro.2022.03.007. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 35304117.  

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