AI-assisted colon cancer screenings
Aopting AI-assisted colonoscopy procedures brings both clinical and financial benefits
Advances in artificial intelligence (AI) are revolutionising the routine colonoscopy exam by enhancing visibility and precision in the endoscopy room, making it easier for physicians to find polyps, potentially improving patient outcomes and reducing long-term healthcare costs.
For two years, gastroenterologist Scott Ketover, CEO of MNGI Digestive Health, has performed AI-assisted colonoscopies using the GI Genius™ intelligent endoscopy system, significantly boosting his detection rate. Dr Ketover and his colleagues have used the technology in more than 35,000 colonoscopies, improving their ability to detect pre-cancerous polyps by more than 30%. Published clinical studies have demonstrated a 14.4% increase in the adenoma detection rate1 and results may vary.
Distributed by Medtronic and granted a de novo request by the US Food and Drug Administration in 2021, the GI Genius™ system is AI-enabled technology designed to work with standard endoscopic procedures. The camera scope collects data that are run through an AI processor, which then flags potential polyps and lesions to a clinician on a video monitor.
Smart investment
In addition to improving the accuracy of colorectal cancer screening, Dr Ketover says the technology makes financial sense at his ten private practice locations in Minnesota. “It’s important from our point of view, obviously, that a new technology at least pays for itself. Because we’re using the GI Genius™ system, we’re doing better clinical work with more polyps identified, leading to a greater procedure shift from diagnostic to therapeutic screening colonoscopies,” he says.
The GI Genius™ system can help clinicians to detect polyps that may have gone undetected, so clinicians end up removing more of them during colonoscopies—improving patient outcomes2 and driving incremental revenue for the practice utilizing existing colonoscopy codes3. Also, the data gained in this way help physicians to know which patients are at increased risk of future cancer growths, so they can bring them back at a shorter interval than the usual ten-year wait time between colonoscopies, accelerating downstream revenue, says Dr Ketover.
Colorectal cancer is the second most deadly cancer in the United States (after lung cancer). More than 53,000 people were expected to die from it during 2024, according to the American Cancer Society. It is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in men under 50. But it is highly treatable when detected early4, underscoring the importance of preventive screenings.
Early detection is critical to reducing long-term healthcare costs, making the technology a strategic investment for medical institutions. Removing potentially dangerous polyps can significantly lower the need for costly future treatments such as invasive surgery, chemotherapy or advanced-stage cancer care which can strain resources.5
A 2022 microsimulation model of US patients showed that the use of AI-assisted screening colonoscopy may prevent more colorectal cancer cases and deaths than using colonoscopy alone. The authors concluded that the technology should end up saving money that would have to be spent on caring for patients who would otherwise have developed colorectal cancer.6
“A second set of eyes”
Although colonoscopies are considered the “gold standard” for detecting adenomas—polyps that can become dangerous tumours if left untreated—a 2019 study published in the journal Gastroenterology found that traditional methods can miss more than 25% of them.
Rajesh Keswani, system director of endoscopy and director of quality for the Northwestern Medicine Digestive Health Institute in Chicago, started using the device in 2022. “The GI Genius™ system, as a form of artificial intelligence, is essentially a second set of eyes in the room that is constantly scanning the screen as well, obviously undistracted and able to identify polyps that we know that humans might miss,” he says, adding that even the most skilled gastroenterologists can overlook subtle lesions and small polyps.
After a nine-month pilot trial showed clinicians were picking up more precancerous lesions, Dr Keswani and the Northwestern Medicine hospital leadership pushed for adoption of this technology across the health system. The GI Genius™ system is now available in approximately 50 endoscopy rooms in the Northwestern Medicine system.
By investing in such cutting-edge technology, Northwestern is paving the way for smaller hospital systems. “People still look towards academic centres in many ways to lead the way, to show whether or not technology is ready for adoption,” Dr Keswani says.
Northwestern Medicine administrators looked at the data and approved expanding the programme to 50 more locations. Hannah Koczka, vice president of ventures and innovation at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, who is in charge of purchasing, says: “This is now standard of care for us.”
Research on detection is compelling. A 2020 study published in Gastroenterology found that the use of the GI Genius™ system resulted in a 14% increase in the adenoma detection rate compared with the use of conventional colonoscopy.
By enhancing detection rates and enabling earlier interventions, AI-assisted colonoscopies not only improve patient outcomes but also offer value for healthcare providers, reducing the burdens of colorectal cancer on society. Whether in academic centres or community colonoscopy offices, Dr Ketover hopes that the GI Genius™ system will become standard of care everywhere. Better technology, he points out, is the key to saving lives and money.
Disclaimer: Dr Ketover and Dr Keswani are both paid consultants for Medtronic.
Learn more about the GI Genius™ system
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