The COLO-DETECT Study, or detecting a higher number of polyps through colonoscopy

 

What did the researchers study?

A team of researchers wanted to see if a new system, which uses artificial intelligence (AI), could help doctors better find polyps during a colonoscopy. The study was called COLO-DETECT and used a special AI device called GI Genius.

Why is this study important?

Certain polyps can turn into colon cancer if they are not discovered and removed in time. If doctors can find more polyps, especially those that can turn into cancer, this could help prevent colon cancer.

How was the study conducted?

Over 2,000 adults from 12 hospitals in England participated. They were either undergoing routine colonoscopy for colon cancer screening or had other digestive problems requiring this examination. Patients were randomly divided into two groups:

1. One group had a normal colonoscopy, assisted by the artificial intelligence system.
2. The other group had a standard colonoscopy, without the assistance of artificial intelligence.

What did the researchers find?

The results were very encouraging!

• More dangerous polyps found: Doctors who used artificial intelligence found, on average, more adenomatous polyps (those that can turn into cancer) in each patient, compared to doctors who performed the standard colonoscopy. Specifically, 1.56 polyps in the AI group versus 1.21 in the standard group.
• More patients with polyps detected: A higher percentage of patients in the artificial intelligence group had at least one adenoma discovered (almost 57 out of 100 patients) compared to the group with standard colonoscopy (almost 48 out of 100 patients).

This means that artificial intelligence helped find more polyps, especially small, flat ones or other types of lesions difficult to see with the naked eye, which are often missed and can lead to cancer after a seemingly normal colonoscopy.

Was using artificial intelligence safe?

Yes, the study showed that there were no more problems or complications (adverse events) in patients who had the colonoscopy with the help of artificial intelligence compared to those who had the standard colonoscopy. So, adding artificial intelligence does not seem to bring additional risks.

What do the experts think?

Experts believe that these artificial intelligence systems that help detect polyps have great potential to change the way colonoscopies are performed for the better. They say that although the results are promising, further studies are needed to see if finding more small polyps will lead, in the long run, to fewer cases of colon cancer and fewer deaths from it. So far, these technologies have been used more in university hospitals, but the study results show that it would be beneficial to use them more widely.

Are there also concerns or other aspects to consider?

Some specialists wonder what the long-term impact of finding a larger number of polyps will be, especially if they are very small. They agree that these technologies can improve patient care, especially in routine check-ups, but they want to better understand how this changes general cancer prevention strategies.

In conclusion:

The COLO-DETECT study shows that using artificial intelligence during colonoscopies can help doctors find more polyps, especially those that could become cancerous. This is good news and an important step forward for diagnosing problems in the intestine, but research must continue to understand all the long-term benefits.

Source Medscape