Helping to prevent colorectal cancer with machine learning

For the average individuals, this research will help them get an accurate diagnosis of which type of polyps should be tested.

Arief A. Suriawinata, MD

Colorectal Cancer is the second most common cause of death by cancer. Fortunately, colorectal cancer can be prevented.

Annual screenings and the removal and assessment of polyps found during these screenings can prevent colorectal cancer from even starting. Once a polyp is removed, a pathologist will assess and classify it to determine if it is cancer. The classification method requires a highly skilled pathologist to correctly assess the polyp.

At Dartmouth Cancer Center, research is being done by biomedical computer scientist Saeed Hassanpour, PhD, and clinical pathologist Arief A. Suriawinata, MD, on new technology that helps pathologists more accurately classify polyps.