Shannon Tosounian, DO, of St. Luke’s Gastroenterology in Palmerton is excited to offer area residents the region’s first technology powered by artificial intelligence (AI) to improve the detection of colorectal cancer, the third leading cause of cancer death.

Now available at St. Luke’s Carbon Campus, the GI Genius endoscopy module is the first-to-market, AI-powered computer-aided polyp detection system.

“One of the most rewarding aspects of being a gastroenterologist is knowing that we save lives by identifying and removing cancerous and precancerous growths within the colon, Dr. Tosounian said.

“For this reason, I’m passionate about promoting colorectal screening to identify colorectal cancer at its earliest, most preventable stage. I’m thrilled that St. Luke’s has brought this colonoscopy-enhanced technology to St. Luke’s Carbon Campus for the well-being and convenience of our patients.”

Colorectal cancer is the third most prevalent cancer for both men and women in the United States. Fortunately, it has a cure rate that exceeds 80%, and even higher when caught early. One in 24 people will be diagnosed with colorectal cancer in their lifetime, and in just one recent year, 2021, there were 149,000 new cases in the country, leading to 52,980 deaths.

Precancerous polyps

“Early detection of adenomas - or precancerous polyps - gives us the chance to catch colon polyps before they develop into colon cancer, and to diagnose and treat colon cancer before it spreads,” said Dr. Noel Martins, Division Chief of Gastroenterology and Fellowship Clinical Professor, St. Luke’s University Network. “Early detection is the best way to avoid bad outcomes, particularly because symptoms such as bleeding, abdominal pain and weight loss may not appear until it is too late.”

Scott Siegfried, division administrator for Gastroenterology at St. Luke’s, concurs. “I cannot underscore enough how important it is to be screened as soon as you are eligible, which is now 45 years old,” he said. “Having undergone one colonoscopy, which helped to identify and remove some adenomas, I can attest that it is so worth the effort. The prep is easy, and the procedure itself is quick and painless. The value you get in return for such a short-term inconvenience is immeasurable.”

Martins and Siegfried provide the day-to-day medical and operational oversight for gastroenterology and hepatology inpatient and outpatient services for the St. Luke’s University Network.

With an Adenoma Detection Rate of 42% - far exceeding the national benchmark rate of 25% - the gastroenterology team has been consistently successful “with the most important measure of colonoscopy quality that we have,” Martins said.

St. Luke’s new GI Genius endoscopy module is composed of hardware and software designed to highlight portions of the colon where the device detects a potential lesion, according to the Food and Drug Administration.

Using artificial intelligence algorithm techniques that identify regions of interest, the GI Genius system generates markers, which look like green squares and are accompanied by a short, low-volume sound. During the colonoscopy, the GI Genius tool superimposes these images on the video from the endoscope camera, signaling to the clinician that further assessment may be needed. This could involve closer visual inspection, tissue sampling, testing or removal, or ablation of (burning) the lesion.

The GI Genius module, Siegfried said, “only amplifies our ability. We already have incredibly talented physicians, and this just adds another set of eyes in the room. We are very fortunate to be the first in the region to have this technology, which was acquired through a grant program and recently installed. It’s another great tool in our toolbox.”

When to get a screening

Knowing when you need your next colorectal screening can be confusing. St. Luke’s Gastroenterology suggests that you confer with your gastroenterologist or primary care physician to determine the best timing for you.

Everyone should have their first colonoscopy at age 45, recently lowered from 50.

If you have a first-degree relative - parent, sibling, child - who has been diagnosed with colorectal cancer, begin screening when you are 10 years younger than the age your relative was diagnosed.

Also, should you have any of the colorectal cancer signs below, contact your doctor, who may schedule a colonoscopy.

• Anemia

• Rectal bleeding

• Blood in the stool

• Abdominal pain without another cause

• Unintentional weight loss.