A hospital trust has decided to continue using AI technology following a successful trial that demonstrated its effectiveness in detecting bowel lesions that could potentially develop into cancer. The South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust (STSFT) has been incorporating a computer module known as the GI Genius AI device during colonoscopies—a procedure that uses a camera to examine the inside of the bowel.
The new technology has been shown to identify an additional 0.36 lesions, or adenomas, per colonoscopy on average. Prof. Colin Rees, a consultant gastroenterologist at the trust, stated that this advancement would “save lives.”
“This trial has shown that artificial intelligence can significantly enhance the detection of bowel abnormalities that may progress to cancer,” Prof. Rees explained. “With this technology, we can identify and remove these lesions before they turn into cancer.”
The AI has proven effective in spotting smaller or flatter polyps that might be overlooked by human eyes. In the UK, there are approximately 43,000 new cases of bowel cancer annually, with about 16,000 deaths from the disease each year, Prof. Rees noted.
The trial involved 2,032 patients across 10 UK centers. Results revealed that the AI device detected at least one additional adenoma in 8 out of 100 individuals and did not increase the risk of complications.
“We now use this technology as a standard practice and hope it will become more widely adopted,” Prof. Rees said. “The remarkable aspect of AI is its ability to learn and improve over time by analyzing images. Its knowledge base continues to grow, making it increasingly effective.”
