Small bowel deep learning algorithm project
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Pilot study to develop a deep learning algorithm for identification & scoring of terminal ileal Crohn’s disease in Magnetic Resonance Enterography images.
IRAS ID
238924
Contact name
Uday Patel
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
London North West University Healthcare NHS Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 0 months, 4 days
Research summary
Crohn’s disease affects 200,000 people in the UK (~1 in 500), most are young (diagnosed < 35 years) with costs of direct medical care exceeding £500 million. Crohn’s disease is caused by an auto-immune response and affects any part of the digestive tract, most commonly the last segment of the small bowel (the terminal ileum). \n\n\nMagnetic resonance imaging (MRI) plays a role in 3 areas: Crohn’s disease diagnosis , monitoring treatment response & assessing development of complications. \n\nTo evaluate the small bowel using MRI, Radiologists visually examine the scan slice-by-slice. The interpretation is time consuming and error-prone because of disease presentation variability and differentiation of diseased segments from collapsed segments.\n\nDeep learning for image analysis is based on a computer algorithm “learning” from human (Radiologist) generated training data. This method has been successfully applied to medical imaging, for example computer detection of lung cancer on chest X-rays.\n\nThis pilot study investigates if a deep learning algorithm can identify and score segments of inflamed terminal ileum affected by Crohn’s disease in close to real-time and fully automatically on MR images. To our knowledge this is the first project attempting to develop such an algorithm.\n\nWe propose to retrospectively review MR images obtained as part of standard care from patients being investigated for, Crohn’s or being followed up with Crohn’s disease. 226 patients’ images will be used for the study.\n\nOn fully anonymised images two Radiologists working at Northwick Park Hospital will score and outline normal and abnormal loops of terminal ileum. Imperial College computer science department will then develop a deep learning algorithm from imaging features of normal and abnormal loops. The study end-point is algorithm performance vs. images labelled by Radiologists. \n\nWe hope to eventually develop an algorithm that assists Radiologists in the accurate diagnosis and follow-up of patients with Crohn’s disease. \n
REC name
London - Camden & Kings Cross Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
18/LO/1670
Date of REC Opinion
25 Sep 2018
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion