Issue 4/2024
Koemdzhiev, D., Karagyozov, P.
Clinic of Gastroenterology, Acibadem City Clinic UMBAL „Tokuda” – Sofia
Colorectal cancer remains the leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide, despite the widespread adoption of population screening strategies. This is partly due to the constant development of „interval colorectal carcinomas“, in which patients develop colon cancer despite adequate surveillance intervals, meaning pre-malignant lesions are missed during colonoscopy. Numerous techniques have been developed to improve the sensitivity and accuracy of lesion detection and characterization in an attempt to improve the efficacy of colorectal cancer screening, thereby reducing its incidence. This article presents a comprehensive overview of the role of artificial intelligence (AI) as a solution to improve the quality of screening and follow-up colonoscopies. Artificial intelligence has shown remarkable potential to address the challenge of serous polyps, notorious for being undetectable by humans due to their inconspicuous appearance. AI enables inexperienced gastroenterologists to characterize polyps with an accuracy similar to that of expert endoscopists, reducing reliance on pathologic evaluation and guiding appropriate resection techniques. AI in colonoscopy has the potential to improve polyp detection and characterization, addressing current limitations and improving patient outcomes. Integrating AI technologies into routine colonoscopy represents a promising step toward more effective colorectal cancer screening and prevention.
Key words: colonoscopy; artificial intelligence; polyp; colorectal cancer
Address for correspondence:
Dr. Dimitar Emilov Koemdzhiev
Clinic of Gastroenterology, Acibadem City Clinic,
UMBAL “Tokuda”
51BNikola Y. Vaptsarov Blvd.
1407, Sofia
e-mail: dimitar.koemdzhiev@yahoo.bg
tel.: 0883511220