NASHVILLE — TriStar Southern Hills Medical Center is the first hospital in the City of Nashville to use artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the detection of precancerous colonic polyps during screening colonoscopies. Enhanced screening through artificial intelligence (AI) is a powerful new ally in the prevention of colorectal cancer.
“The value of a colonoscopy is driven by the quality of the exam you receive,” said Dr. Clayton Spiceland, a board-certified gastroenterologist at TriStar Southern Hills Medical Center. “This technology puts TriStar Southern Hills at the forefront for colorectal cancer screening technology in the country.”
Colorectal cancer remains the third most commonly diagnosed cancer, and the second-leading cause of cancer-related death among men and women in the United States. Colorectal cancer screenings help physicians find colon cancer before it causes symptoms and when the chances for successful treatment, optimal outcomes, and fewer adverse effects, are greatest.
The new AI technology has been studied extensively and shown to increase how often an endoscopist detects precancerous colon polyps by more than14%, resulting in better colorectal cancer screenings and improved outcomes. The computer-aided polyp detection system was “trained” with 13 million pictures of precancerous polyps to precisely recognize their surface characteristics during a colonoscopy.
“The AI technology is able to pick up on things that even the most well-trained eye may not be drawn to,” said Dr. Spiceland. “I am excited that we are able to offer this technology to the south Nashville community.”
To schedule a colonoscopy at TriStar Southern Hills Medical Center using this advanced technology, individuals must have a referral from their primary care physician. For more information, or to make an appointment, visit TriStarSouthernHills.com