By Birgit Buerkner
While the doctor examines a patient’s digestive tract with a small camera, a virtual colleague looks over his shoulder: Watch out, suspicious tissue!
A system that works with artificial intelligence has recognized a harmless precancerous stage. The first Berlin clinics are now using such systems for colonoscopy.
Vilmar Frauendorf (38), specialist in gastroenterology at the Meoclinic in Friedrichstrasse (centre), guides the endoscope through the colon of his patient Bernd W. (57).
In the endoscopy room of the Sana-Klinikum Lichtenberg, Prof. Siegbert Faiss performs a colonoscopy with a system that works with artificial intelligence Photo: Thomas Spikermann
He had presented himself in private practice because of a long-standing irritable bowel problem and recent abdominal cramps. While the doctor examines the intestinal mucosa, a green square lights up. The system has targeted a polyp.
“The artificial intelligence automatically analyzes the video material and marks potential changes in the mucosa. As with a second opinion from a virtual expert, the doctor is informed of this fully automatically,” says Dr. Marc Köppe (47), head of practice. “It’s like two experienced doctors doing the exam at the same time.”
dr Marc Köppe, Head of Meoclinic’s private gastroenterology practice Photo: Thomas Spikermann
A module is connected between the endoscope and the computer. It constantly compares the mucous membrane in the camera’s field of view with thousands of stored images of cell changes and also carries out a characterization. “Adenoma” is read on the monitor. A benign growth that can lead to colon cancer.
“Unfortunately, around twenty percent of adenomas are overlooked,” says Köppe. With the help of the new technology, the detection rate can be increased by up to 15 percent. “Important, because an increase of just one percent reduces the cancer risk of those affected by three percent.”
Three polyps are finally found and removed from Bernd W. The risk of cancer has been eliminated!
Prof. Siegbert Faiss (58), chief physician for gastroenterology, is already using artificial intelligence for colonoscopy at the Sana-Klinikum Lichtenberg. “The system recognizes more small polyps under five millimeters in size than the human eye,” he says.
Prof. Siegbert Faiss guides the endoscopy camera through the intestine so that he can see the entire mucous membrane with it Photo: Thomas Spikermann
Faiss uses a prototype that sends the recordings to a cloud in England. There, each image is compared with several thousand cell templates and an assessment is sent without delay. In addition, the system also measures the cleanliness of the organ, an important quality criterion in the examination, and displays the precise location of the camera. Faiss: “We are currently developing the system further so that it can automatically write reports in the background.”
Colorectal cancer is the second most common malignant tumor in Germany. In Berlin, around 2,000 people fall ill with it every year. The precursors are very treatable. If colorectal cancer is advanced, the mortality rate is around 50 percent. Since 2002, the statutory health insurance companies have been offering a colonoscopy as a precautionary measure for men over the age of 50 and for women over the age of 55 or in the event of symptoms.
