Evolving Role of Artificial Intelligence in Endoscopic Management of Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Diagnosis, Surveillance, and Assessment.

Journal: Digestive endoscopy : official journal of the Japan Gastroenterological Endoscopy Society
Published Date:

Abstract

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), including Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, presents substantial diagnostic and management challenges because of its variable clinical course and the limitations of conventional endoscopy. Although endoscopic procedures are crucial for diagnosis and surveillance, their inherent subjectivity and inter-observer variability complicate disease assessment. Recent advances in artificial intelligence (AI) offer promising solutions to these challenges by enabling automated, precise, and objective image analysis. AI technologies have demonstrated success in diagnosing IBD, distinguishing it from other gastrointestinal disorders, and facilitating early identification of neoplasia in IBD patients, improving clinical decision-making and potentially reducing the need for invasive procedures. Furthermore, AI applications for evaluating endoscopic images have enhanced the accuracy of disease severity assessments such as the Mayo Endoscopic Score and Ulcerative Colitis Endoscopic Index of Severity by overcoming issues related to observer variability. Integration of AI with advanced endoscopic technologies, including image-enhanced and magnified endoscopy, further improves lesion characterization and offers insights into mucosal healing, which is crucial for optimizing treatment. While AI's potential in IBD management is substantial, challenges remain in its clinical implementation, necessitating further validation through real-world data and regulatory approval. This review explores the evolving role of AI in transforming IBD diagnosis, surveillance, and assessment, with a focus on enhancing patient care through improved precision and efficiency.

Authors

  • Virginia Gregorio
    Digestive Disease Center, Showa Medical University Northern Yokohama Hospital, Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan.
  • Yasuharu Maeda
    Digestive Disease Center, Showa University Northern Yokohama Hospital, Yokohama, Japan.
  • Shin-Ei Kudo
    Digestive Disease Center, Showa University Northern Yokohama Hospital, Tsuzuki-ku, Yokohama, 224-8503, Japan.
  • Yurie Kawabata
    Digestive Disease Center, Showa Medical University Northern Yokohama Hospital, Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan.
  • Takanori Kuroki
    Digestive Disease Center, Showa University Northern Yokohama Hospital, Yokohama, Japan.
  • Giovanni Santacroce
    APC Microbiome Ireland, College of Medicine and Health, University College Cork, Cork, T12 YT20, Ireland.
  • Miguel Puga-Tejada
    Gastroenterology, Instituto Ecuatoriano de Enfermedades Digestivas (IECED), Guayaquil, Ecuador.
  • Kento Takenaka
    Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan.
  • Kaoru Takabayashi
    Center for Diagnostic and Therapeutic Endoscopy, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
  • Jun Ohara
    Department of Pathology, Showa University, Tokyo, Japan. johara1729@med.showa-u.ac.jp.
  • Chiyo Maeda
    Digestive Disease Center, Showa Medical University Northern Yokohama Hospital, Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan.
  • Katsuro Ichimasa
    Digestive Disease Center, Showa University, Northern Yokohama Hospital, Yokohama, Japan.
  • Masashi Misawa
    Digestive Disease Center, Showa University Northern Yokohama Hospital, Tsuzuki-ku, Yokohama, 224-8503, Japan.
  • Noriyuki Ogata
    Digestive Disease Center, Showa University Northern Yokohama Hospital, Yokohama, Japan.
  • Haruhiko Ogata
    Center for Diagnostic and Therapeutic Endoscopy, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
  • Kazuo Ohtsuka
    Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan (K.O.).
  • Marietta Iacucci
    National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Birmingham Biomedical Research Centre, Birmingham, UK.

Keywords

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