Published online Jul 31, 2019. doi: 10.13105/wjma.v7.i7.343
Peer-review started: June 25, 2019
First decision: July 20, 2019
Revised: July 27, 2019
Accepted: July 29, 2019
Article in press: July 29, 2019
Published online: July 31, 2019
Processing time: 36 Days and 16.2 Hours
In recent times, there has been progressive development in artificial intelligence (AI) following the introduction of deep learning in the medical field including gastroenterology and endoscopy. Most of the reported studies were based on retrospective data. Several prospective studies of real-time diagnosis of moving images using the AI system are expected to match the real clinical situation and to aid the endoscopists in the detection and diagnosis of neoplasms without missing any lesion. AI can read a large number of endoscopic images in a few minutes and make a diagnosis; therefore, it is expected to cover the lack of support for the screening esophagogastroduodenoscopy in the health check-up and a large number of capsule images, thereby freeing the endoscopists from this burden. AI can help make the diagnosis during the endoscopic procedure and thereby prevent an unnecessary biopsy for patients taking antithrombotic drugs. AI can also be useful for education and training in endoscopy. Trainees can learn to perform endoscopy and the detection and diagnosis of lesions by the support of AI. In the near future, real-time endoscopic diagnosis using AI is expected to lessen the burden of endoscopists, to enhance the quality level of endoscopists, to overcome the miss of lesions and to make optimal diagnosis.
Core tip: Artificial intelligence (AI) has an increasing role in medical imaging in recent times. It has numerous benefits in the field of endoscopy. It aids in the accurate identification and diagnosis of lesions. AI also helps in reading and accurately interpreting large volumes of endoscopic images. It can play a role in the training of endoscopists as well.