Computer-assisted colonoscopy finds more precancerous polyps

"Our findings add to the growing amount of literature that shows using computer-aided technology during an endoscopy procedure can improve the quality of exams performed and improve outcomes for our patients," Dr. Aasma Shaukat of NYU Grossman School of Medicine, in New York City, said in a news release.

The study was published in Gastroenterology to coincide with presentation at Digestive Disease Week 2022.

Dr. Shaukat and her colleagues analyzed data from 682 patients randomly assigned to have colonoscopies performed using a computer-aided detection (CADe) device and 677 who had standard colonoscopies performed by 22 board-certified gastroenterologists at five academic and community centers in the U.S.

All patients were aged 40 and older, were undergoing a screening or surveillance colonoscopy and had not had a colonoscopy within the last three years.

The number of polyps detected per colonoscopy was higher in the CADe group compared with the standard group (1.05 vs. 0.83; P=0.002), without a significant decrease in the true histology rate (71.7% for standard vs. 67.4% for CAD, P for noninferiority <0.001).

CADe colonoscopy led to a 27% increase in the overall adenoma-detection rate in average-risk patients, "reflecting one additional adenoma resected among every 4.5 patients screened," the study team reports in Gastroenterology.

The improvement in adenomas detected per colonoscopy was seen in both screening and surveillance exams.

There was also a small increase in adenoma-detection rate of 3.9 percentage points with the use of the CADe device (47.8% vs. 43.9%; P=0.065).

Importantly, the researchers say, use of the CADe device led to an increase in detection of both small lesions measuring 1 to 4 mm (20% increase) and larger lesions measuring 5 to 9 mm (29% increase), primarily driven by increased detection in the proximal colon.

The study was funded by Iterative Scopes, Inc, which makes SKOUT, the CADe device used in the study. Several authors have disclosed financial relationships with the company.