Sengkang General Hospital in Singapore is turning into a centre of excellence for AI-assisted colonoscopy with support from Medtronic International.

The two organisations have signed a memorandum of understanding to promote AI-assisted colonoscopy for colorectal cancer screening.

Based on their agreement, SKH will become a regional training institute and global reference centre to advance research and education in the AI-powered procedure, as well as lead clinical innovation of colonoscopy screening and detection practices. They also aim to raise public awareness of cancer detection technologies, including AI-assisted colonoscopy. 

SKH first adopted AI-assisted colonoscopy in July 2021. After a year of pilot, it found that the AI-powered procedure led to higher rates of polyp removal compared with non-AI-assisted colonoscopies. 

WHY IT MATTERS

Colorectal cancer is one of the top two killer cancers in Singapore, affecting around 2,000 people each year. The disease is usually diagnosed among people aged 50 and above and is the most common among men. 

Most cases of colorectal cancers begin from polyps; removing them through colonoscopy can help prevent their advancement to cancer. However, a quarter of colorectal polyps can be missed in a single colonoscopy, SKH noted.

AI-assisted technology has been proven to be useful in accurately detecting and removing polyps given its high screening sensitivity and its ability to differentiate between pre-cancerous and non-precancerous polyps.

SKH as a centre of excellence aims "to advance the use of AI-assisted colonoscopy for colorectal cancer screening thereby increasing detection and improving surveillance of non-cancerous, pre-cancerous, and cancerous lesions, to prevent as well as reduce the rates of colorectal cancer and death."

THE LARGER TREND

Besides SKH, Farrer Park Hospital also recently started offering an AI-assisted colorectal screening service. It was officially introduced in May last year.

Elsewhere in Asia, Apollo Hospitals and its partner telecommunications company Bharti Airtel recently began the first trial of 5G and AI-guided colonoscopy in India.

In Thailand where colorectal cancer is also a major killer, a new AI-based system for detecting suspicious polyps in the colon has been developed by researchers from Chulalongkorn University. The AI tool called DeepGI has shown over 90% accuracy in polyps detection. 

In 2021, electronics giant NEC released in Japan its own AI-powered diagnosis support software for colonoscopies called WISE VISION Endoscopy.

ON THE RECORD

"With the centre of excellence, healthcare professionals within and beyond our hospital can collaborate and share knowledge, insights and experiences to enhance the depth and breadth of their expertise. Combining these with AI functionalities, we can co-develop and advance the use of AI to improve early detection to prevent colorectal cancer. This is a huge advantage in elevating patient care and outcomes in our focus on preventive healthcare moving forward," said SKH CEO Professor Teo Eng Kiong.