PRH staff, WSU alum participate in colon cancer screening research
Local medical providers contribute to Mayo Clinic study
PULLMAN — Pullman Regional Hospital was featured in the American Journal of Gastroenterology for colon cancer screening research.
The hospital announced in a news release Thursday medical staff along with a Washington State University medical student were published in the study analyzing the impact of computer-aided detection to identify polyps on pre-cancerous tissue during colonoscopies.
The study was authored by Pierce Claassen, an internal medicine resident at Arizona’s Mayo Clinic.
The WSU Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine alum was published alongside Dustene Johnston, registered nurse and director of Pullman Regional Hospital’s same-day services department; Benjamin Adkins, Pullman Family Medicine physician; Nancy Panko, general surgeon and medical director at Pullman Surgical Associates; and John Visger, Pullman Surgical Associates general surgeon.
The team spent three years comparing detection rates of adenomas with and without GI Genius, a computer-aided detection software, during colonoscopies. They concluded there was a 5% increase in detection when using the technology.
Colonoscopies are a routine test to screen for colon cancer. The screenings are recommended for adults age 45 with an average risk for colorectal cancer. Subsequent testing should be done every 10 years after if no tumors are found and patients have no prior family history of colon cancer.
Trained physicians, surgeons and gastroenterologists at the local hospital performed around 3,000 colonoscopies each year.
Pearce can be reached at epearce@dnews.com.
