Colon Cancer. AI can help detect disease early

Most colon polyps are harmless, but some develop colon or rectal cancer over time, which can be fatal if not detected until subsequent tests. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), colorectal cancer is the second deadliest cancer in the world, with nearly 1.9 million cases and 916,000 deaths worldwide in 2020.

American scientists from Mayo Clinic led the international team that conducted the research. The results of the work were published in the scientific journal “Gastroenterology”.

A colonoscopy is a test used to look for changes or abnormalities in the large intestine (colon) and rectum. Between February 2020 and last May, 230 study participants underwent colonoscopy twice on the same day at eight hospitals and community clinics in the US, UK and Italy. One colonoscopy used artificial intelligence, and the other was performed as standard.

It is estimated that the overlooked rate of precancerous colon polyps is 25 per cent. In the study, the error rate was 15.5%. In the group that underwent their first AI colonoscopy. However, in the group that underwent standard colonoscopy, the percentage of missed cases was 32.4%. AI colonoscopy discovered more polyps that were smaller in size, flat, and located in the proximal and distal parts of the colon.

Additionally, the false negative rate was 6.8%. In the group that underwent their first AI colonoscopy. In the placebo group, the proportion was 29.6%. A false negative result indicates that the patient does not have a specific medical condition, when in fact the opposite is true.

“Colon and rectal cancer can be almost completely prevented with proper screening,” said lead study author Dr. Michael B. Wallace, chief of gastroenterology and hepatology at Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City in Abu Dhabi. “Using artificial intelligence to detect colon polyps and save lives is welcome and promising news for patients and their families,” he added.