William Karnes, MD, is director of the high-risk program and colonoscopy quality at the UCI Health H.H. Chao Comprehensive Digestive Disease Center in Orange, Calif., and chief medical officer of Docbot, a technology that uses artificial intelligence to detect abnormalities from colonoscopy capsule video. Here, Dr. Karnes shares his thoughts with Becker's ASC Review on the future of AI in the gastroenterology specialty, and how the technology could help patients and physicians. Question: Can you tell me a little more about the Docbot technology and how you got involved? Dr. William Karnes: The story goes back to 2012 when I came to UCI and Dr. Chan brought me on to wipe out colon cancer in Orange County. It was a three-pronged approach but one of the most important ones.

BACKGROUND: Polyps are made up of abnormal tissue; they are growths that most often look like flat, small bumps or tiny mushroom-like stalks. They are most commonly found in the colon and are typically less than half an inch wide. Most are non-cancerous, but because they are a result of abnormal cell growth, they can eventually become malignant (cancerous). Your doctor can help determine if a growth is a polyp by performing a biopsy, which involves taking a sample of the tissue and testing for the presence of cancerous cells. Treatment depends on their size, location, and whether they are malignant or benign. Hyperplastic polyps are harmless, while adenomatous polyps are the most common and although most will not; they do have the potential to develop into colon cancer. Finally, malignant polyps are noted under microscopic exam to have cancer cells in them. In most cases polyps do not cause symptoms, but if you do experience symptoms they may include things like; blood in your stool, rectal bleeding, pain, diarrhea, or constipation, nausea or vomiting. Blood on your toilet tissue or blood-streaked stools may indicate rectal bleeding and should be evaluated by a doctor.