NICE polyp feature classification for colonoscopy screening

Colorectal cancer is one of the most prevalent cancers worldwide, highlighting the critical need for early and accurate diagnosis to reduce patient risks. Inaccurate diagnoses not only compromise patient outcomes but also lead to increased costs and additional time burdens for clinicians. Enhancing diagnostic accuracy is essential, and this study focuses on improving the accuracy of polyp classification using the NICE classification, which evaluates three key features: colour, vessels, and surface pattern.

A multiclass classifier was developed and trained to independently classify each of the three features in the NICE classification. The approach prioritizes clinically relevant features rather than relying on handcrafted or obscure deep learning features, ensuring transparency and reliability for clinical use. The classifier was trained on internal datasets and tested on both internal and public datasets.

The classifier successfully classified the three polyp features, achieving an accuracy of over 92% on internal datasets and exceeding 88% on a public dataset. The high classification accuracy demonstrates the system's effectiveness in identifying the key features from the NICE classification.

This study underscores the potential of using an independent classification approach for NICE features to enhance clinical decision-making in colorectal cancer diagnosis. The method shows promise in improving diagnostic accuracy, which could lead to better patient outcomes and more efficient clinical workflows.