@misc{ScheppachRauberStallhoferetal., author = {Scheppach, Markus and Rauber, David and Stallhofer, Johannes and Muzalyova, Anna and Otten, Vera and Manzeneder, Carolin and Schwamberger, Tanja and Wanzl, Julia and Schlottmann, Jakob and Tadic, Vidan and Probst, Andreas and Schnoy, Elisabeth and R{\"o}mmele, Christoph and Fleischmann, Carola and Meinikheim, Michael and Miller, Silvia and M{\"a}rkl, Bruno and Palm, Christoph and Messmann, Helmut and Ebigbo, Alanna}, title = {Performance comparison of a deep learning algorithm with endoscopists in the detection of duodenal villous atrophy (VA)}, series = {Endoscopy}, volume = {55}, journal = {Endoscopy}, number = {S02}, publisher = {Thieme}, doi = {10.1055/s-0043-1765421}, pages = {S165}, abstract = {Aims VA is an endoscopic finding of celiac disease (CD), which can easily be missed if pretest probability is low. In this study, we aimed to develop an artificial intelligence (AI) algorithm for the detection of villous atrophy on endoscopic images. Methods 858 images from 182 patients with VA and 846 images from 323 patients with normal duodenal mucosa were used for training and internal validation of an AI algorithm (ResNet18). A separate dataset was used for external validation, as well as determination of detection performance of experts, trainees and trainees with AI support. According to the AI consultation distribution, images were stratified into "easy" and "difficult". Results Internal validation showed 82\%, 85\% and 84\% for sensitivity, specificity and accuracy. External validation showed 90\%, 76\% and 84\%. The algorithm was significantly more sensitive and accurate than trainees, trainees with AI support and experts in endoscopy. AI support in trainees was associated with significantly improved performance. While all endoscopists showed significantly lower detection for "difficult" images, AI performance remained stable. Conclusions The algorithm outperformed trainees and experts in sensitivity and accuracy for VA detection. The significant improvement with AI support suggests a potential clinical benefit. Stable performance of the algorithm in "easy" and "difficult" test images may indicate an advantage in macroscopically challenging cases.}, language = {en} } @misc{ScheppachMendelProbstetal., author = {Scheppach, Markus W. and Mendel, Robert and Probst, Andreas and Meinikheim, Michael and Palm, Christoph and Messmann, Helmut and Ebigbo, Alanna}, title = {Artificial Intelligence (AI) - assisted vessel and tissue recognition during third space endoscopy (Smart ESD)}, series = {Zeitschrift f{\"u}r Gastroenterologie}, volume = {60}, journal = {Zeitschrift f{\"u}r Gastroenterologie}, number = {08}, publisher = {Georg Thieme Verlag}, address = {Stuttgart}, doi = {10.1055/s-0042-1755110}, abstract = {Clinical setting Third space procedures such as endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) and peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) are complex minimally invasive techniques with an elevated risk for operator-dependent adverse events such as bleeding and perforation. This risk arises from accidental dissection into the muscle layer or through submucosal blood vessels as the submucosal cutting plane within the expanding resection site is not always apparent. Deep learning algorithms have shown considerable potential for the detection and characterization of gastrointestinal lesions. So-called AI - clinical decision support solutions (AI-CDSS) are commercially available for polyp detection during colonoscopy. Until now, these computer programs have concentrated on diagnostics whereas an AI-CDSS for interventional endoscopy has not yet been introduced. We aimed to develop an AI-CDSS („Smart ESD") for real-time intra-procedural detection and delineation of blood vessels, tissue structures and endoscopic instruments during third-space endoscopic procedures. Characteristics of Smart ESD An AI-CDSS was invented that delineates blood vessels, tissue structures and endoscopic instruments during third-space endoscopy in real-time. The output can be displayed by an overlay over the endoscopic image with different modes of visualization, such as a color-coded semitransparent area overlay, or border tracing (demonstration video). Hereby the optimal layer for dissection can be visualized, which is close above or directly at the muscle layer, depending on the applied technique (ESD or POEM). Furthermore, relevant blood vessels (thickness> 1mm) are delineated. Spatial proximity between the electrosurgical knife and a blood vessel triggers a warning signal. By this guidance system, inadvertent dissection through blood vessels could be averted. Technical specifications A DeepLabv3+ neural network architecture with KSAC and a 101-layer ResNeSt backbone was used for the development of Smart ESD. It was trained and validated with 2565 annotated still images from 27 full length third-space endoscopic videos. The annotation classes were blood vessel, submucosal layer, muscle layer, electrosurgical knife and endoscopic instrument shaft. A test on a separate data set yielded an intersection over union (IoU) of 68\%, a Dice Score of 80\% and a pixel accuracy of 87\%, demonstrating a high overlap between expert and AI segmentation. Further experiments on standardized video clips showed a mean vessel detection rate (VDR) of 85\% with values of 92\%, 70\% and 95\% for POEM, rectal ESD and esophageal ESD respectively. False positive measurements occurred 0.75 times per minute. 7 out of 9 vessels which caused intraprocedural bleeding were caught by the algorithm, as well as both vessels which required hemostasis via hemostatic forceps. Future perspectives Smart ESD performed well for vessel and tissue detection and delineation on still images, as well as on video clips. During a live demonstration in the endoscopy suite, clinical applicability of the innovation was examined. The lag time for processing of the live endoscopic image was too short to be visually detectable for the interventionist. Even though the algorithm could not be applied during actual dissection by the interventionist, Smart ESD appeared readily deployable during visual assessment by ESD experts. Therefore, we plan to conduct a clinical trial in order to obtain CE-certification of the algorithm. This new technology may improve procedural safety and speed, as well as training of modern minimally invasive endoscopic resection techniques.}, subject = {Bildgebendes Verfahren}, language = {en} } @misc{RoserMeinikheimMendeletal., author = {Roser, D. A. and Meinikheim, Michael and Mendel, Robert and Palm, Christoph and Probst, Andreas and Muzalyova, A. and Scheppach, Markus W. and Nagl, S. and Schnoy, Elisabeth and R{\"o}mmele, Christoph and Schulz, D. and Schlottmann, Jakob and Prinz, Friederike and Rauber, David and R{\"u}ckert, Tobias and Matsumura, T. and Fernandez-Esparrach, G. and Parsa, N. and Byrne, M. and Messmann, Helmut and Ebigbo, Alanna}, title = {Human-Computer Interaction: Impact of Artificial Intelligence on the diagnostic confidence of endoscopists assessing videos of Barrett's esophagus}, series = {Endoscopy}, volume = {56}, journal = {Endoscopy}, number = {S 02}, publisher = {Georg Thieme Verlag}, issn = {1438-8812}, doi = {10.1055/s-0044-1782859}, pages = {79}, abstract = {Aims Human-computer interactions (HCI) may have a relevant impact on the performance of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Studies show that although endoscopists assessing Barrett's esophagus (BE) with AI improve their performance significantly, they do not achieve the level of the stand-alone performance of AI. One aspect of HCI is the impact of AI on the degree of certainty and confidence displayed by the endoscopist. Indirectly, diagnostic confidence when using AI may be linked to trust and acceptance of AI. In a BE video study, we aimed to understand the impact of AI on the diagnostic confidence of endoscopists and the possible correlation with diagnostic performance. Methods 22 endoscopists from 12 centers with varying levels of BE experience reviewed ninety-six standardized endoscopy videos. Endoscopists were categorized into experts and non-experts and randomly assigned to assess the videos with and without AI. Participants were randomized in two arms: Arm A assessed videos first without AI and then with AI, while Arm B assessed videos in the opposite order. Evaluators were tasked with identifying BE-related neoplasia and rating their confidence with and without AI on a scale from 0 to 9. Results The utilization of AI in Arm A (without AI first, with AI second) significantly elevated confidence levels for experts and non-experts (7.1 to 8.0 and 6.1 to 6.6, respectively). Only non-experts benefitted from AI with a significant increase in accuracy (68.6\% to 75.5\%). Interestingly, while the confidence levels of experts without AI were higher than those of non-experts with AI, there was no significant difference in accuracy between these two groups (71.3\% vs. 75.5\%). In Arm B (with AI first, without AI second), experts and non-experts experienced a significant reduction in confidence (7.6 to 7.1 and 6.4 to 6.2, respectively), while maintaining consistent accuracy levels (71.8\% to 71.8\% and 67.5\% to 67.1\%, respectively). Conclusions AI significantly enhanced confidence levels for both expert and non-expert endoscopists. Endoscopists felt significantly more uncertain in their assessments without AI. Furthermore, experts with or without AI consistently displayed higher confidence levels than non-experts with AI, irrespective of comparable outcomes. These findings underscore the possible role of AI in improving diagnostic confidence during endoscopic assessment.}, language = {en} } @misc{MeinikheimMendelScheppachetal., author = {Meinikheim, Michael and Mendel, Robert and Scheppach, Markus W. and Probst, Andreas and Prinz, Friederike and Schwamberger, Tanja and Schlottmann, Jakob and G{\"o}lder, Stefan Karl and Walter, Benjamin and Steinbr{\"u}ck, Ingo and Palm, Christoph and Messmann, Helmut and Ebigbo, Alanna}, title = {INFLUENCE OF AN ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI) BASED DECISION SUPPORT SYSTEM (DSS) ON THE DIAGNOSTIC PERFORMANCE OF NON-EXPERTS IN BARRETT´S ESOPHAGUS RELATED NEOPLASIA (BERN)}, series = {Endoscopy}, volume = {54}, journal = {Endoscopy}, number = {S 01}, publisher = {Thieme}, doi = {10.1055/s-00000012}, pages = {S39}, abstract = {Aims Barrett´s esophagus related neoplasia (BERN) is difficult to detect and characterize during endoscopy, even for expert endoscopists. We aimed to assess the add-on effect of an Artificial Intelligence (AI) algorithm (Barrett-Ampel) as a decision support system (DSS) for non-expert endoscopists in the evaluation of Barrett's esophagus (BE) and BERN. Methods Twelve videos with multimodal imaging white light (WL), narrow-band imaging (NBI), texture and color enhanced imaging (TXI) of histologically confirmed BE and BERN were assessed by expert and non-expert endoscopists. For each video, endoscopists were asked to identify the area of BERN and decide on the biopsy spot. Videos were assessed by the AI algorithm and regions of BERN were highlighted in real-time by a transparent overlay. Finally, endoscopists were shown the AI videos and asked to either confirm or change their initial decision based on the AI support. Results Barrett-Ampel correctly identified all areas of BERN, irrespective of the imaging modality (WL, NBI, TXI), but misinterpreted two inflammatory lesions (Accuracy=75\%). Expert endoscopists had a similar performance (Accuracy=70,8\%), while non-experts had an accuracy of 58.3\%. When AI was implemented as a DSS, non-expert endoscopists improved their diagnostic accuracy to 75\%. Conclusions AI may have the potential to support non-expert endoscopists in the assessment of videos of BE and BERN. Limitations of this study include the low number of videos used. Randomized clinical trials in a real-life setting should be performed to confirm these results.}, subject = {Speiser{\"o}hrenkrankheit}, language = {en} } @misc{MeinikheimMendelProbstetal., author = {Meinikheim, Michael and Mendel, Robert and Probst, Andreas and Scheppach, Markus W. and Schnoy, Elisabeth and Nagl, Sandra and R{\"o}mmele, Christoph and Prinz, Friederike and Schlottmann, Jakob and Golger, Daniela and Palm, Christoph and Messmann, Helmut and Ebigbo, Alanna}, title = {AI-assisted detection and characterization of early Barrett's neoplasia: Results of an Interim analysis}, series = {Endoscopy}, volume = {55}, journal = {Endoscopy}, number = {S02}, publisher = {Thieme}, doi = {10.1055/s-0043-1765437}, pages = {S169}, abstract = {Aims Evaluation of the add-on effect an artificial intelligence (AI) based clinical decision support system has on the performance of endoscopists with different degrees of expertise in the field of Barrett's esophagus (BE) and Barrett's esophagus-related neoplasia (BERN). Methods The support system is based on a multi-task deep learning model trained to solve a segmentation and several classification tasks. The training approach represents an extension of the ECMT semi-supervised learning algorithm. The complete system evaluates a decision tree between estimated motion, classification, segmentation, and temporal constraints, to decide when and how the prediction is highlighted to the observer. In our current study, ninety-six video cases of patients with BE and BERN were prospectively collected and assessed by Barrett's specialists and non-specialists. All video cases were evaluated twice - with and without AI assistance. The order of appearance, either with or without AI support, was assigned randomly. Participants were asked to detect and characterize regions of dysplasia or early neoplasia within the video sequences. Results Standalone sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of the AI system were 92.16\%, 68.89\%, and 81.25\%, respectively. Mean sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of expert endoscopists without AI support were 83,33\%, 58,20\%, and 71,48 \%, respectively. Gastroenterologists without Barrett's expertise but with AI support had a comparable performance with a mean sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of 76,63\%, 65,35\%, and 71,36\%, respectively. Conclusions Non-Barrett's experts with AI support had a similar performance as experts in a video-based study.}, language = {en} } @misc{ScheppachMendelProbstetal., author = {Scheppach, Markus W. and Mendel, Robert and Probst, Andreas and Rauber, David and Rueckert, Tobias and Meinikheim, Michael and Palm, Christoph and Messmann, Helmut and Ebigbo, Alanna}, title = {Real-time detection and delineation of tissue during third-space endoscopy using artificial intelligence (AI)}, series = {Endoscopy}, volume = {55}, journal = {Endoscopy}, number = {S02}, publisher = {Thieme}, doi = {10.1055/s-0043-1765128}, pages = {S53 -- S54}, abstract = {Aims AI has proven great potential in assisting endoscopists in diagnostics, however its role in therapeutic endoscopy remains unclear. Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) is a technically demanding intervention with a slow learning curve and relevant risks like bleeding and perforation. Therefore, we aimed to develop an algorithm for the real-time detection and delineation of relevant structures during third-space endoscopy. Methods 5470 still images from 59 full length videos (47 ESD, 12 POEM) were annotated. 179681 additional unlabeled images were added to the training dataset. Consequently, a DeepLabv3+ neural network architecture was trained with the ECMT semi-supervised algorithm (under review elsewhere). Evaluation of vessel detection was performed on a dataset of 101 standardized video clips from 15 separate third-space endoscopy videos with 200 predefined blood vessels. Results Internal validation yielded an overall mean Dice score of 85\% (68\% for blood vessels, 86\% for submucosal layer, 88\% for muscle layer). On the video test data, the overall vessel detection rate (VDR) was 94\% (96\% for ESD, 74\% for POEM). The median overall vessel detection time (VDT) was 0.32 sec (0.3 sec for ESD, 0.62 sec for POEM). Conclusions Evaluation of the developed algorithm on a video test dataset showed high VDR and quick VDT, especially for ESD. Further research will focus on a possible clinical benefit of the AI application for VDR and VDT during third-space endoscopy.}, subject = {Speiser{\"o}hrenkrankheit}, language = {en} } @misc{EbigboRauberAyoubetal., author = {Ebigbo, Alanna and Rauber, David and Ayoub, Mousa and Birzle, Lisa and Matsumura, Tomoaki and Probst, Andreas and Steinbr{\"u}ck, Ingo and Nagl, Sandra and R{\"o}mmele, Christoph and Meinikheim, Michael and Scheppach, Markus W. and Palm, Christoph and Messmann, Helmut}, title = {Early Esophageal Cancer and the Generalizability of Artificial Intelligence}, series = {Endoscopy}, volume = {56}, journal = {Endoscopy}, number = {S 02}, publisher = {Thieme}, address = {Stuttgart}, doi = {10.1055/s-0044-1783775}, pages = {S428}, abstract = {Aims Artificial Intelligence (AI) systems in gastrointestinal endoscopy are narrow because they are trained to solve only one specific task. Unlike Narrow-AI, general AI systems may be able to solve multiple and unrelated tasks. We aimed to understand whether an AI system trained to detect, characterize, and segment early Barrett's neoplasia (Barrett's AI) is only capable of detecting this pathology or can also detect and segment other diseases like early squamous cell cancer (SCC). Methods 120 white light (WL) and narrow-band endoscopic images (NBI) from 60 patients (1 WL and 1 NBI image per patient) were extracted from the endoscopic database of the University Hospital Augsburg. Images were annotated by three expert endoscopists with extensive experience in the diagnosis and endoscopic resection of early esophageal neoplasias. An AI system based on DeepLabV3+architecture dedicated to early Barrett's neoplasia was tested on these images. The AI system was neither trained with SCC images nor had it seen the test images prior to evaluation. The overlap between the three expert annotations („expert-agreement") was the ground truth for evaluating AI performance. Results Barrett's AI detected early SCC with a mean intersection over reference (IoR) of 92\% when at least 1 pixel of the AI prediction overlapped with the expert-agreement. When the threshold was increased to 5\%, 10\%, and 20\% overlap with the expert-agreement, the IoR was 88\%, 85\% and 82\%, respectively. The mean Intersection Over Union (IoU) - a metric according to segmentation quality between the AI prediction and the expert-agreement - was 0.45. The mean expert IoU as a measure of agreement between the three experts was 0.60. Conclusions In the context of this pilot study, the predictions of SCC by a Barrett's dedicated AI showed some overlap to the expert-agreement. Therefore, features learned from Barrett's cancer-related training might be helpful also for SCC prediction. Our results allow different possible explanations. On the one hand, some Barrett's cancer features generalize toward the related task of assessing early SCC. On the other hand, the Barrett's AI is less specific to Barrett's cancer than a general predictor of pathological tissue. However, we expect to enhance the detection quality significantly by extending the training to SCC-specific data. The insight of this study opens the way towards a transfer learning approach for more efficient training of AI to solve tasks in other domains.}, language = {en} } @misc{ScheppachMendelRauberetal., author = {Scheppach, Markus W. and Mendel, Robert and Rauber, David and Probst, Andreas and Nagl, Sandra and R{\"o}mmele, Christoph and Meinikheim, Michael and Palm, Christoph and Messmann, Helmut and Ebigbo, Alanna}, title = {Artificial Intelligence (AI) improves endoscopists' vessel detection during endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD)}, series = {Endoscopy}, volume = {56}, journal = {Endoscopy}, number = {S 02}, publisher = {Thieme}, address = {Stuttgart}, doi = {10.1055/s-0044-1782891}, pages = {S93}, abstract = {Aims While AI has been successfully implemented in detecting and characterizing colonic polyps, its role in therapeutic endoscopy remains to be elucidated. Especially third space endoscopy procedures like ESD and peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) pose a technical challenge and the risk of operator-dependent complications like intraprocedural bleeding and perforation. Therefore, we aimed at developing an AI-algorithm for intraprocedural real time vessel detection during ESD and POEM. Methods A training dataset consisting of 5470 annotated still images from 59 full-length videos (47 ESD, 12 POEM) and 179681 unlabeled images was used to train a DeepLabV3+neural network with the ECMT semi-supervised learning method. Evaluation for vessel detection rate (VDR) and time (VDT) of 19 endoscopists with and without AI-support was performed using a testing dataset of 101 standardized video clips with 200 predefined blood vessels. Endoscopists were stratified into trainees and experts in third space endoscopy. Results The AI algorithm had a mean VDR of 93.5\% and a median VDT of 0.32 seconds. AI support was associated with a statistically significant increase in VDR from 54.9\% to 73.0\% and from 59.0\% to 74.1\% for trainees and experts, respectively. VDT significantly decreased from 7.21 sec to 5.09 sec for trainees and from 6.10 sec to 5.38 sec for experts in the AI-support group. False positive (FP) readings occurred in 4.5\% of frames. FP structures were detected significantly shorter than true positives (0.71 sec vs. 5.99 sec). Conclusions AI improved VDR and VDT of trainees and experts in third space endoscopy and may reduce performance variability during training. Further research is needed to evaluate the clinical impact of this new technology.}, language = {en} } @misc{ScheppachWeberNunesArizietal., author = {Scheppach, Markus W. and Weber Nunes, Danilo and Arizi, X. and Rauber, David and Probst, Andreas and Nagl, Sandra and R{\"o}mmele, Christoph and Meinikheim, Michael and Palm, Christoph and Messmann, Helmut and Ebigbo, Alanna}, title = {Procedural phase recognition in endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) using artificial intelligence (AI)}, series = {Endoscopy}, volume = {56}, journal = {Endoscopy}, number = {S 02}, publisher = {Thieme}, address = {Stuttgart}, doi = {10.1055/s-0044-1783804}, pages = {S439}, abstract = {Aims Recent evidence suggests the possibility of intraprocedural phase recognition in surgical operations as well as endoscopic interventions such as peroral endoscopic myotomy and endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) by AI-algorithms. The intricate measurement of intraprocedural phase distribution may deepen the understanding of the procedure. Furthermore, real-time quality assessment as well as automation of reporting may become possible. Therefore, we aimed to develop an AI-algorithm for intraprocedural phase recognition during ESD. Methods A training dataset of 364385 single images from 9 full-length ESD videos was compiled. Each frame was classified into one procedural phase. Phases included scope manipulation, marking, injection, application of electrical current and bleeding. Allocation of each frame was only possible to one category. This training dataset was used to train a Video Swin transformer to recognize the phases. Temporal information was included via logarithmic frame sampling. Validation was performed using two separate ESD videos with 29801 single frames. Results The validation yielded sensitivities of 97.81\%, 97.83\%, 95.53\%, 85.01\% and 87.55\% for scope manipulation, marking, injection, electric application and bleeding, respectively. Specificities of 77.78\%, 90.91\%, 95.91\%, 93.65\% and 84.76\% were measured for the same parameters. Conclusions The developed algorithm was able to classify full-length ESD videos on a frame-by-frame basis into the predefined classes with high sensitivities and specificities. Future research will aim at the development of quality metrics based on single-operator phase distribution.}, language = {en} }