World Endoscopy Organization Position Statements for Artificial Intelligence in Endoscopic Diagnosis of Gastric Epithelial Neoplasia

Abstract

The World Endoscopy Organization (WEO) has prepared position statements for artificial intelligence (AI) in endoscopic diagnosis of gastric epithelial neoplasia as part of activities in the Stomach and Duodenal Diseases Committee. Gastric cancer is still a major cause of cancer death globally, and endoscopy plays a crucial role for early detection and early treatment to improve patients' quality of life as well as to save patients' lives. Artificial intelligence (AI) is an emerging technology to have the potential to increase endoscopic diagnostic yields dramatically, but evidence in clinical use is still insufficient, only from advanced institutions in certain countries. Thus, we developed three, three, and four position statements regarding computer-aided detection, computer-aided diagnosis, and promotion of research, respectively, for better understanding of the present standpoints and future perspectives of AI in endoscopic diagnosis of gastric epithelial neoplasia. AI in the stomach must be helpful to ensure the quality of endoscopy and to increase diagnostic accuracy, but it is still controversial in terms of cost-effectiveness. In addition, it is necessary to develop AI for endoscopic diagnosis of not only gastric epithelial neoplasia but also all kinds of neoplastic lesions and the other alert lesions in the upper gastrointestinal tract in order to apply AI in the entire procedure of esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD). Furthermore, developing AI for risk stratification to know the best timing of EGD surveillance is warranted as future agenda.