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NHS doctors will be able to use aye tools that help them recognize developments that may change bowel cancer After the technology gets the green light for use in healthcare.
Growths in the intestine, called polyps, are not cancerous, but some types of polyps can develop into cancer if they are not discovered and removed in time.
These can be seen during a test with a camera to look inside the intestine, known as a colonoscopy.
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) has conditionally approved five new AI tools, which it said could act as a “second pair of eyes” during these examinations.
NICE made the draft recommendations after reviewing evidence that suggested they could help doctors find more polyps during bowel examinations.
AI technologies could be used in the NHS while more evidence is collected on them over the next four years, Nice said.
The devices have been trained using thousands of images and work by detecting any potential growths during a colonoscopy.
Clinicians performing the test are alerted to any potential areas of concern.
Finding and removing polyps before they become cancerous can help prevent bowel cancer.
“These AI technologies act as helpful assistants during bowel exams, flagging areas that doctors may want to revisit,” said Dr. Anastasia Chalkidou, HealthTech Program Director at Nice.
“By helping to detect more polyps, these devices can potentially save lives by catching problems before they develop into cancer.
“We are allowing these technologies to be used now because they show real promise, while we gather the detailed evidence we need to understand their long-term impact on preventing cancer.”
Professor Peter Johnson, National Clinical Director for Cancer at NHS England, said: “AI technologies are a really exciting step forward for patients, giving our doctors an additional tool to identify problems such as harmful growths sooner, when it is much easier to remove them and prevent cancer from developing.
“I look forward to seeing how this technology works in NHS services alongside appropriate clinical monitoring – and what benefits it has for patients.”
Health Minister Dr Zubir Ahmed said: “It is very exciting to be able to use this technology to ensure patients are diagnosed with their cancer early – in some cases before it has the chance to progress – and to equip our NHS with rigorously tested and proven clinical AI tools.”
Bowel cancer is one of the most common cancers in the UK and affects around 42,000 people each year.
Concerns have been raised recently about the increase in bowel cancer in young adults.
According to Cancer Research UK, the incidence of bowel cancer in people aged 25–49 has increased by 62% since the early 1990s.
Consultations on the draft NICE recommendations have begun and will run until December 11.