Lingam G, Shakir T, Kader R, Chand M. Role of artificial intelligence in colorectal cancer. Artif Intell Gastrointest Endosc 2024; 5(2): 90723 [DOI: 10.37126/aige.v5.i2.90723]
Corresponding Author of This Article
Taner Shakir, BSc, MBChB, Research Fellow, Surgeon, Department of Colorectal Surgery, University College London, Charles Bell House, 43-45 Foley St, London W1W 7TY, United Kingdom. taner.shakir.23@ucl.ac.uk
Research Domain of This Article
Surgery
Article-Type of This Article
Minireviews
Open-Access Policy of This Article
This article is an open-access article which was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Gita Lingam, Department of General Surgery, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Harlow CM20 1QX, United Kingdom
Taner Shakir, Department of Colorectal Surgery, University College London, London W1W 7TY, United Kingdom
Rawen Kader, Department of Gastroenterology, University College London, University College London Hospitals Nhs Foundation Trust, London W1B, United Kingdom
Manish Chand, Gastroenterological Intervention Centre, University College London, London W1W 7TS, United Kingdom
Co-first authors: Gita Lingam and Taner Shakir.
Author contributions: Lingam G, Shakir T and Chand M conceptualised the article; Lingam G and Shakir T developed the methodology and wrote the manuscript; All authors reviewed, edited and approved the final manuscript.
Conflict-of-interest statement: Dr. Rawen Kader receives medical consultancy fees from Odin Vision.
Open-Access: This article is an open-access article that was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: https://creativecommons.org/Licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Corresponding author: Taner Shakir, BSc, MBChB, Research Fellow, Surgeon, Department of Colorectal Surgery, University College London, Charles Bell House, 43-45 Foley St, London W1W 7TY, United Kingdom. taner.shakir.23@ucl.ac.uk
Received: December 12, 2023 Revised: April 10, 2024 Accepted: April 19, 2024 Published online: June 8, 2024
Abstract
The sphere of artificial intelligence (AI) is ever expanding. Applications for clinical practice have been emerging over recent years. Although its uptake has been most prominent in endoscopy, this represents only one aspect of holistic patient care. There are a multitude of other potential avenues in which gastrointestinal care may be involved. We aim to review the role of AI in colorectal cancer as a whole. We performed broad scoping and focused searches of the applications of AI in the field of colorectal cancer. All trials including qualitative research were included from the year 2000 onwards. Studies were grouped into pre-operative, intra-operative and post-operative aspects. Pre-operatively, the major use is with endoscopic recognition. Colonoscopy has embraced the use for human derived classifications such as Narrow-band Imaging International Colorectal Endoscopic, Japan Narrow-band Imaging Expert Team, Paris and Kudo. However, novel detection and diagnostic methods have arisen from advances in AI classification. Intra-operatively, adjuncts such as image enhanced identification of structures and assessment of perfusion have led to improvements in clinical outcomes. Post-operatively, monitoring and surveillance have taken strides with potential socioeconomic and environmental savings. The uses of AI within the umbrella of colorectal surgery are multiple. We have identified existing technologies which are already augmenting cancer care. The future applications are exciting and could at least match, if not surpass human standards.
Core Tip: We reviewed the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in colorectal cancer as a whole. Divided into pre-operative, intra-operative and post-operative, we identified a number of adjuncts that can help the clinician. Endoscopic detection and diagnosis are two of the mainstays of AI in this field, however there are a number of other adjuncts that can help surgeons intraoperatively. These include identification of anatomy, and assessment of blood supply. Moreover, post-operative efficiency improvements with histopathological analysis can aid the clinician. Overall, these adjuncts are aimed at augmenting the clinicians experience to improve outcomes.
