What should we expect when colon wall thickening is detected on abdominal CT scan in the era of artificial intelligence?

Abstract

AIM: Except for emergencies, endoscopic findings were investigated in patients with increased thickness of the colon wall on abdominal CT.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: Patients who underwent colonoscopy due to the detection of thickening of the colon wall in the abdominal CT performed for non-emergency reasons in the General Surgery Clinic of Health Sciences University Haseki Training and Research Hospital between January 2018 and December 2020 were evaluated retrospectively. Data were obtained by scanning the hospital database.

RESULTS: Fifty-four patients who underwent colonoscopy after incidentally detected increased colonic wall thickening determined from the hospital database. Endoscopic examinations revealed tumors in 30 patients (55.6%), inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in 9 patients (16,6%), nonspesific colitis in 1 patient (1,9%), polyps in 3 patients (5,6%), and diverticula in 2 patients (3.7%). No pathology was detected in 9 patients (16.6%). Patients were aged between 21 and 87 (mean 59,04 years, SD ± 18,54).

DISCUSSION: Tumor is the primary endoscopy finding in cases where an increase in colon wall thickness is detected incidentally on abdominal CT, except in emergencies. We performed this preliminary study in the near future to determine the diagnostic algorithm with the use of artificial intelligence in radiology and thus avoid unnecessary investigations.

CONCLUSION: In our study, the main reason for the incidentally detected increase in colon wall thickness is the tumor. A diagnostic algorithm can be created with machine learning, a subcomponent of artificial intelligence.