The new Cx20 technology will help doctors determine whether the colorectal lesions are neoplastic or non-neoplastic

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The Cx20 function supports the identification of disease during examinations. (Credit: NEC Corporation.)

Japanese IT company NEC has developed an artificial intelligence (AI) technology to help doctors in the detection of neoplastic colorectal lesions.

The new technology, dubbed Cx20, is designed to aid healthcare professionals in determining whether the colorectal lesions are neoplastic or non-neoplastic.

The Cx20 software leverages the learning power of AI to combine information of endoscopy images and data from the findings of expert physicians.

It analyses still images of lesions from endoscopy devices, and notifies if the AI determines any colorectal lesion is likely to be neoplastic.

NEC said that its Cx20 has already met the requirements for CE marking, a European safety, health and environmental protection standard.

Also, it intends to integrate the new technology into WISE VISION Endoscopy, its medical device AI diagnostic support software.

WISE VISION Endoscopy connects with existing endoscopic equipment and provides sound notifications when a neoplastic lesion is located using images captured during procedures.

Colorectal cancer originates from precancerous lesions, also called colorectal neoplastic polyps, and its progression can be suppressed by early detection and removal of lesions.

However, endoscopists often find it difficult to visually differentiate between neoplastic and non-neoplastic lesions during endoscopy examinations.

NEC has developed the new technology to improve the chances of identifying a colorectal lesion, and help endoscopists in their decision making.

The company has been working together with National Cancer Centre Japan since 2016, to develop a technology that automatically detects colorectal lesions during endoscopy examinations.

NEC has leveraged face recognition technology, which is part of its AI based technologies portfolio, in developing the new solution

The company intends to continue further research with the National Cancer Center Japan to enhance the performance of its AI technology and to assist endoscopists.