New AI-Powered Colonoscopy Tech Helps Identify Precancerous Polyps

The technology helps physicians identify small, flat, or indiscernable polyps early and in real time.

June 29, 2026

Key Highlights

The CADe system provides real-time assistance to physicians during colonoscopies, improving polyp detection rates.
Early detection of precancerous polyps can significantly reduce the incidence of colorectal cancer.
AI technology helps identify small, flat, or hard-to-see polyps that might be missed by the human eye.
Enhanced detection rates contribute to better patient outcomes and lower long-term healthcare costs.
UTSA's adoption of AI reflects a broader trend toward integrating advanced technology in medical diagnostics.

Physicians at the University of Texas at San Antonio's health center are using new artificial intelligence-powered technology during colonoscopies to "help detect precancerous polyps in real time."

The computer-aided detection system, known as CADe, acts as an "additional observer during a colonoscopy procedure to help physicians identify subtle or difficult-to-see polyps that could otherwise be overlooked."

Colonoscopies are "one of the few screening tools capable of detecting cancer early, and preventing it altogether, by identifying and removing adenomas, precancerous polyps that can develop into colorectal cancer over time." One of the most important measures of a high-quality colonoscopy is adenoma detection rate, or ADR, which "reflects how often physicians detect precancerous polyps during screening procedures."

The AI-assisted system helps physicians identify "small, flat, or indiscernable polyps in real time." This helps them save patients from more "invasive, complex treatments and higher healthcare costs associated with advanced colorectal cancer later in life."