Prospective study of computer-aided detection of colorectal adenomas in hospitalized patients

Adenoma detection with polypectomy during total colonoscopy reduces the incidence of colorectal cancer (CRC) and colorectal cancer-associated mortality. The adenoma detection rate (ADR) is an established quality indicator, which is associated with a decreased risk for interval cancer. An increase in ADR could be demonstrated for several artificially intelligent, real-time computer-aided detection (CADe) systems in selected patients. Most studies concentrated on outpatient colonoscopies. This sector often lacks funds for applying costly innovations like CADe. Hospitals are more likely to implement CADe and information about the impact of CADe in the distinct patient cohort of hospitalized patients is scarce.

In this prospective, randomized-controlled study, we compared colonoscopies performed with or without computer-aided detection (CADe) system (GI Genius, Medtronic) performed at University Medical Center Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Luebeck. The primary endpoint was ADR.

Overall, 232 patients were randomized with n = 122 patients in the CADe arm and n = 110 patients in the control arm. Median age was 66 years (interquartile range 51-77). Indication for colonoscopy was most often workup for gastrointestinal symptoms (88.4%) followed by screening, post-polypectomy and post-CRC surveillance (each 3.9%). Withdrawal time was significantly prolonged (11 vs. 10 min, p = 0.039), without clinical relevance. Complication rate was not different between the arms (0.8% vs. 4.5%; p = 0.072). The ADR was significantly increased in the CADe arm compared to the control (33.6% vs. 18.1%, p = 0.008). ADR increase was particularly strong for the detection in elderly patients aged ≥50 years (OR 6.3, 95% CI 1.7 - 23.1, p = 0.006).

The use of CADe is safe and increases ADR in hospitalized patients.