The London Clinic is the first hospital in the UK and one of the first in the world to employ the GI Genius™ artificial intelligence system to enhance the quality of colonoscopies.
Background
Colorectal cancer is the fourth most common cancer in the UK and the second biggest cancer killer in the country, claiming more than 16,000 lives a year. Colorectal cancer is treatable and curable, especially if diagnosed early.
Regular screening such as colonoscopy aims to identify the presence of polyps (or adenomas), which may transform into carcinomas if not detected and removed early. Over 90% of colorectal carcinomas are adenocarcinomas which can be detected in colonoscopy screening procedures.
Adenoma detection rates can vary greatly between endoscopists. However, a recently released randomised trial found that computer-aided polyp detection (CADe) offers improvement versus high-definition (HD) colonoscopy alone. Much of the improved performance was in the detection of smaller polyps, which are more likely to be missed during screening.
Medtronic’s GI Genius™ module is the first system to use AI to detect colorectal polyps. The device effectively acts as a second observer during colonoscopies, helping to assist doctors by identifying lesions and small mucosal abnormalities that may signal cancer. It works by analysing the video stream during colonoscopy, using advanced AI to highlight the presence of pre-cancerous lesions with a visual marker in real-time. The device offers the potential to improve diagnosis and outcomes for patients with colorectal cancer.
A leading independent hospital and charity Located in London’s Harley Street Medical Area, The London Clinic is one of the first in the world to be utilising this pioneering technology.
Clinician comments
Dr Rehan Haidry, Consultant Gastroenterologist at The London Clinic, said: “We are thrilled to introduce the GI Genius™ system at The London Clinic. The system represents an important advancement in technology and is a crucial step in the fight against colorectal cancer, supporting both patients and doctors.
“The technology is incredibly powerful and is proven to be extremely precise in identifying lesions in the colonic mucosa that can be difficult to detect. Some polyps can be very small, and during colonoscopy procedures you are examining the colon, which is five feet long, so it’s vital to be as thorough and diligent as possible.
“Having a second set of eyes that can pick up the smallest change in real-time means we can focus our attention on the right places, which can be life-saving for patients.”
Source: The London Clinic
published: November 11, 2020 in: News