"The technology is useful when the polyps are small or possibly hard to detect", Mori says. A possible flaw with the new technology is that doctors detect more small, non-dangerous polyps using the tool, which then have to be removed. Even if the removal of small polyps does not have any larger side effects, one in a thousand will experience bleeding or a smaller rupture in the colon during removal.
Mori and co-researchers have compared results after colorectal cancer screening, with and without the use of AI. Around 5.800 patients were included in the study."Using AI-tools during colonoscopy resulted in a rise of patients with polyps being recommended screening every three years of 20 percent in Europe", says Mori. Usually patients are recommended controls every 10 years.
The research was published in Impact of artificial intelligence on colonoscopy surveillance after polyp removal: A pooled analysis of randomized trials.
Because the patients have to go through more screenings, using AI during colonoscopy can result in over-diagnosis, strain on the patients, and higher financial costs for the health services. Some patients also find colonoscopy uncomfortable. Taking laxatives and drink two to three liters of clear liquid before the exam can be hard.
"We do not know if more colonoscopies will lead to a lower risk of contracting colorectal cancer over time, or if it will just increase the financial strain on the hospitals. This requires longitudinal clinical effectiveness studies, and studies of the financial costs of using AI during colonoscopies", Mori says.
Mori and his co-researchers have in another new article studied if using AI during colorectal cancer screening actually leads to higher financial costs for the health services. The study shows that using AI-tools during colorectal cancer screening in the US, reduced the costs by 57 dollars per person.
"Using AI during screening can prevent around 7200 cases of colorectal cancer and around 2000 related deaths on the American population level. This will save society costs of 290 million dollars per year in the long run. The study is based on modelling, and we do not yet know if the estimates are correct. To be able to know, we will need large-scale clinical studies", Mori says.
MEDICA-tradefair.com; Source: University of Oslo, Faculty of Medicine
