Cited by 0Colorectal Cancer Screening and DetectionAI in cancer detectionArtificial Intelligence in Healthcare and Education

Human–machine interaction in optical polyp diagnosis: decision-making after CADx polyp diagnosis

Open access
Dubois, Delphine, Jalal, Yousr, Pohl, Heiko, Rex, Douglas K, Hassan, Cesare, Djinbachian, Roupen, Oleksiw, Megan, Michal, Victoire +1 more·2026·Journal of the Canadian Association of Gastroenterology

Abstract

Background: Artificial intelligence (AI)-based computer-aided diagnosis (CADx) systems are increasingly used to classify colorectal polyps during colonoscopy, but their impact depends on how endoscopists interpret AI predictions. This study aimed to evaluate endoscopists’ decision-making after reviewing CADx outputs, using histopathology diagnosis as ground truth. Patients and methods: We performed a secondary analysis of a prospective study (NCT06822816) conducted at our centre between 2022 and 2025. All patients and polyps ≤10 mm with documented CADx output and endoscopist diagnosis were included. Endoscopists either accepted CADx classifications (neoplastic vs hyperplastic) or provided alternatives. Our primary outcome was the accuracy of accepted CADx diagnoses; secondary outcomes assessed reclassification patterns after CADx output rejection. Results: Our cohort included 754 polyps <10 mm from 367 patients. Accepted CADx diagnoses were correct for 89.1% of neoplastic and 68.7% of hyperplastic CADx predictions. Endoscopists accepted incorrect CADx classifications more frequently when these were neoplastic compared to hyperplastic (64.9% vs 26.5%). Upon rejecting correct CADx neoplastic predictions, endoscopists misclassified 23.4% as sessile serrated lesions (SSLs). Similarly, 29.5% of rejected correct CADx hyperplastic predictions were incorrectly reassigned as SSLs. Conclusions: Endoscopists exhibit a diagnostic bias toward neoplasia, particularly misclassifying hyperplastic polyps as SSLs. While this may enhance safety, it may risk unnecessary surveillance colonoscopies and increase costs.

AI snapshot

Written from the paper’s full text.

TL;DR

In this secondary analysis of a prospective CADx colonoscopy cohort, endoscopists accepted correct neoplastic CADx diagnoses more often than correct hyperplastic ones and showed a bias toward neoplasia, often reclassifying rejected hyperplastic predictions as SSLs. This conservative bias may be clinically safe but could increase unnecessary surveillance colonoscopies and costs.

Key findings

  • Accepted CADx diagnoses were correct for 89.1% of neoplastic predictions (408/458; 95% CI, 85.8–91.7) and 68.7% of hyperplastic predictions (68/99; 95% CI, 58.5–77.4), P < .001.
  • Endoscopists accepted incorrect CADx classifications more frequently when the incorrect classification was neoplastic (64.9% of 77 cases) than when it was hyperplastic (26.5% of 117 cases).
  • Post-rejection reclassification showed a bias toward SSL: the abstract reports 23.4% of rejected correct neoplastic predictions and 29.5% of rejected correct hyperplastic predictions were misclassified as SSLs; the Results report 53.2% (25/47) of rejected neoplastic predictions and 41.6% (62/149) of rejected hyperplastic outputs were incorrectly reassigned as SSLs.
  • Location subgroup: in the proximal colon, correctly accepted CADx neoplastic diagnoses were 91.1% vs 34.6% for hyperplastic (P < .001); in the distal colon, the proportions were not significantly different (84.8% vs 80.8%, P = .577).

Methods

  • Secondary analysis of an IRB-approved prospective cohort (NCT06822816) conducted at one centre between June 2022 and January 2025, using the CADEYE characterization system (Fujifilm Co.) during colonoscopy.
  • Included 753 polyps ≤10 mm from 367 patients with documented CADx output, endoscopist histology prediction, and adenoma, hyperplastic, or SSL pathology; excluded polyps without CADx diagnosis and polyps >10 mm. Colonoscopies were performed by 16 endoscopists (8 staff, N = 180; 8 trainees, N = 187).
  • Primary outcome was proportion of correctly accepted CADx diagnoses stratified by neoplastic vs hyperplastic; secondary outcomes included correct rejection of inaccurate CADx outputs and reclassification patterns. Proportions reported with 95% CIs; comparisons used chi-squared or Fisher exact tests; analyses in R version 4.4.2.

Limitations

  • The paper states a key limitation is the mismatch between binary CADx outputs (neoplastic vs hyperplastic) and endoscopists’ three-category scheme (adenoma, hyperplastic, SSL), since current CADx systems cannot classify SSLs; many apparent reclassification errors may reflect semantic misalignment rather than human misjudgment.
  • The paper states inclusion was limited to polyps <10 mm, and diagnostic accuracy for both endoscopists and CADx declines for smaller polyps, which may explain variability in final diagnostic accuracy.
  • The paper states lack of pathologist data, including no Kappa among pathologists interpreting hyperplastic polyps and SSLs, could confound the histopathology gold standard. Evident from the text: this is a single-centre secondary analysis, and the abstract reports 754 polyps while the Results and Table 1 report 753; the abstract and Results also give inconsistent post-rejection SSL reclassification percentages.

Model-written summary. Check it against the paper before relying on it.

Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.1093/jcag/gwag016

Cites

15 of 15 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

Statistics

Nothing to recompute.

Claims the paper makes

1 of 5 cited sources checked · 0 supported · 0 flagged · accuracy not yet measured

  • Interpretationcitation

    The conservative approach of classifying benign lesions as neoplastic may inadvertently lead to unnecessary early surveillance colonoscopies, thus offsetting initial pathology cost-savings.

    “However, this conservative approach may inadvertently lead to unnecessary early surveillance colonoscopies, thus offsetting initial pathology cost-savings.12,13”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim1 of 2 sources checked
    • cites [12] Force, 2025, Consensus statements on the current landscape of artificial intelligence applications in endoscopy, addressing roadblocks, and advancing artificial intelligence in gastroenterology, Gastrointest Endosc source

      The discussion of AI in daily endoscopy practice says algorithms can recommend appropriate surveillance intervals after polyp resection, but it does not address benign lesions being classified as neoplastic or the resulting costs. Searches for early surveillance, false-positive classification, and pathology cost-savings found no passage in our copy supporting the claimed trade-off. (LLM, conf=0.73)

      Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
    • cites [13] Halvorsen, 2025, Leaving colorectal polyps in situ with endocytoscopy assisted by computer-aided diagnosis: a cost-effectiveness study, Endoscopy source
  • Findingown data

    The proportion of correctly accepted CADx neoplastic diagnoses was greater than the proportion of correctly accepted CADx hyperplastic diagnoses (89.1% vs 68.7%, P < .001).

    “The proportion of correctly accepted CADx neoplastic diagnoses (89.1%, 408/458; 95% CI, 85.8-91.7, Figure 2) was greater than the proportion of correctly accepted CADx hyperplastic diagnoses (68.7%, 68/99; 95% CI, 58.5-77.4, Figure 3), P < .001.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • Findingown data

    Among rejected hyperplastic CADx outputs, 12.1% were correctly reclassified as SSLs.

    “Similarly, although 43.6% of rejected hyperplastic CADx outputs were correctly reclassified as adenomas (31.5%; 95% CI, 24.3-39.7) or SSLs (12.1%; 95% CI, 7.5-18.7), there were 41.6% (62/149; 95% CI, 33.7-50.0) that were incorrectly reassigned as SSLs.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • Findingown data

    CADx tends to predict hyperplastic at similar rates in the proximal (N = 120) and distal colon (N = 128).

    “Furthermore, CADx tends to predict hyperplastic at similar rates in the proximal (N = 120) and distal colon (N = 128), but the final diagnoses are more frequently hyperplastic in the distal colon than proximal colon (N = 59 + 14 vs N = 9 + 17, respectively).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • Findingown data

    In the proximal colon, the proportion of correctly accepted CADx neoplastic diagnoses (91.1%) was higher than the proportion of correctly accepted CADx hyperplastic diagnoses (34.6%), P < .001.

    “Looking at polyps located in the proximal colon, similar results were obtained, with a proportion of correctly accepted CADx neoplastic diagnoses (91.1%; 95% CI, 87.2-93.9, Figure S3) higher than the proportion of correctly accepted CADx hyperplastic diagnoses (34.6%; 95% CI, 17.9-55.6, Figure S4), P < .001.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • May combine two claims. 7
  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim. 1
  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationown data

    Endoscopists exhibit a diagnostic bias toward neoplasia, particularly misclassifying hyperplastic polyps as SSLs.

    “Endoscopists exhibit a diagnostic bias toward neoplasia, particularly misclassifying hyperplastic polyps as SSLs.”
    • Also stated in: § Discussion · boosted
      “In conclusion, endoscopists demonstrate a pronounced diagnostic bias towards neoplastic lesions, frequently misclassifying hyperplastic polyps as SSLs.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • May combine two claims.

    Study design and conductreasoning

    The lack of data concerning pathologists and the unavailability of Kappa among pathologists interpreting hyperplastic polyps and SSLs could create a confounding factor because histopathology is the gold standard in the study.

    “Another limitation to this study is the lack of data concerning the pathologists. The Kappa among pathologists interpreting hyperplastic polyps and SSLs is not available. Since the gold standard in this study is the histopathology, this could create a confounding factor.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationreasoning

    The diagnostic bias toward neoplasia may risk unnecessary surveillance colonoscopies and increase costs.

    “While this may enhance safety, it may risk unnecessary surveillance colonoscopies and increase costs.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • May combine two claims.

    Premisenone given

    Adenoma identification typically relies on clearly defined morphological features such as vessel and pit patterns, while SSL diagnosis often relies on exclusion criteria, resulting in diagnostic uncertainty and overdiagnosis.

    “While adenoma identification typically relies on clearly defined morphological features such as vessel and pit patterns, SSL diagnosis often relies on exclusion criteria, thus resulting in diagnostic uncertainty and overdiagnosis.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    In clinical practice, small polyps <10 mm are more frequently encountered and are more difficult for endoscopists to accurately diagnose.

    “In clinical practice, small polyps <10 mm are more frequently encountered and are more difficult for endoscopist to accurately diagnose.14”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [14] Li, 2023, Real-world validation of a computer-aided diagnosis system for prediction of polyp histology in colonoscopy: a prospective multicenter study, Am J Gastroenterol source
  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationown data

    Our results extend previous work by quantifying the consequences of overrides: significant overdiagnosis of SSL/Ps and consequent inflation of surveillance needs.

    “Our results extend this work by quantifying the consequences of such overrides: significant overdiagnosis of SSL/Ps and consequent inflation of surveillance needs.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

    Interpretationreasoning

    The diagnostic bias toward neoplasia may enhance safety.

    “While this may enhance safety, it may risk unnecessary surveillance colonoscopies and increase costs.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • May combine two claims.

    Premisenone given

    Currently available CADx systems provide binary polyp classification as neoplastic or hyperplastic, whereas endoscopists routinely employ a three-category scheme (adenoma, hyperplastic, SSL).

    “Currently available CADx systems provide binary polyp classification as neoplastic or hyperplastic, whereas endoscopists routinely employ a three-category scheme (adenoma, hyperplastic, SSL), which introduced a confounding factor in our study.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
8 of 8

Self-check

Percentages, sums and reported differences re-computed from the paper’s own numbers.

Each contradiction between two passages listed here was confirmed by an independent check.

  • Cohort size differs between abstract and results

    Minor

    The abstract reports 754 included polyps, while the Results section and Table 1 report 753.

1 of 1

Cites

Flagged first, then by citations

Research works printed but not linked: 1

  1. R Core Team, 2024, R: A Language and Environment for Statistical Computing

Cited by

Still being checked.

Authors
Dubois, D., Jalal, Y., Pohl, H., Rex, D. K., Hassan, C., Djinbachian, R., Oleksiw, M., Michal, V., & von Renteln, D.
Affiliations
  • Université de Montréal (CA)
  • United States Department of Veterans Affairs (US)
  • Indiana University School of Medicine (US)
  • IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital (IT)
  • Centre Hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal (CA)
  • University of Montreal Hospital Research Center (CRCHUM) , Montreal, Quebec, H2X0A9,
Venue
Journal of the Canadian Association of Gastroenterology
Published
2026-04-29
Volume
9
Issue
4
Pages
204-209
ISSN
  • 2515-2084 (ISSN-L)
  • 2515-2092
OpenAlex
W7159965148
Cited by
0
References
15
FWCI
0.00
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Journal of the Canadian Association of Gastroenterology (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
Funders
Fonds de Recherche du Québec Santé
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Oncology › Colorectal Cancer Screening and Detection
  • Physical Sciences › Computer Science › Artificial Intelligence › AI in cancer detection
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Health Informatics › Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare and Education
Keywords
computer-aided diagnosis, colorectal polyps, human-machine interaction, sessile serrated lesions, colonoscopy, histopathology validation

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