VA colonoscopies assisted by AI increase pre-cancerous polyp detection rate

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second leading cause of cancer death for both men and women in the United States and one of the most commonly diagnosed cancers for Veterans. If caught early through regular screening, Veterans’ risk of dying from CRC decreases dramatically. VA is working at the forefront of cancer care and leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) to better detect pre-cancerous growths—known as polyps—during colonoscopy, helping prevent more Veterans from developing CRC in the first place.

Regular CRC screenings like colonoscopies are key to staying on top of your health and may decrease your risk of dying from CRC by upwards of 68%. VA performs nearly 300,000 colonoscopies each year with research demonstrating that VA’s procedures attain a level of quality that exceeds nationally established benchmarks.

VA enhances colonoscopies with artificial intelligence

In December 2022, VA’s National Colorectal Cancer Screening Program (NCSP) added to its best-in-class care available to Veterans across the nation by deploying over 100 artificial intelligence devices to assist with polyp detection during colonoscopy in over 40 VA facilities.

These devices may significantly increase the polyp detection rate during routine colonoscopies.

“I’m excited that we have AI devices becoming available at VA facilities, demonstrating VA’s commitment to best-in-class, innovative care. I look forward to evaluating the results of our initial deployment so we can assess whether to install this technology more broadly across the nation in pursuit of our goal to detect more polyps and prevent Veterans from developing cancer,” said Dr. Jason Dominitz, VA national executive director of Gastroenterology.

Enhanced polyp detection with AI and reduced risk of cancer death

Polyp detection is important for preventing CRC incidence and death. Prior studies have shown that every 1% increase in the rate of detection of pre-cancerous polyps is associated with a 3% decreased odds of future risk of CRC incidence and a 5% decreased odds of future risk of death from CRC.

VA doctors have a proven success record when it comes to finding pre-cancerous polyps with an average rate of 46%, well above the benchmark of 30% for colonoscopy in men in the general population. 

Since the launch of this initiative, VA has installed 115 AI devices for use during colonoscopies in over 40 VA facilities across the nation. Prior research suggests these devices may significantly increase the polyp detection rate during colonoscopies. Over 38,000 VA colonoscopies have already been performed at facilities outfitted with AI devices since their deployment beginning in late 2022.

What’s next for AI in colorectal cancer screening

Driven by its commitment to provide Veterans with the best possible cancer care, VA has begun a formal evaluation of the AI devices used during colonoscopies since deployment. This assessment will compare precancerous polyp detection rates and other measures of colonoscopy quality between those facilities with AI devices installed and those without, and evaluate which VA facilities benefitted most from the technology.

More than 43,000 Veterans are diagnosed with cancer each year and millions are considered at risk. VA is contributing to the Cancer Moonshot, which aims to reduce the cancer death rate by half within 25 years, by deploying innovative technologies like AI to improve screening and treatment outcomes.  

To learn more about cancer care at VA, visit cancer.va.gov.

To learn more about colorectal cancer screening, visit the Centers for Disease Control’s website, and ask your doctor about screening options available at VA.