Smart Soft Healthcare
info@columbo.me
www.columbo.me
Summary of Clinical Assessment of CoLumbo for Central Canal
Stenosis Diagnostics
Problem:
There is a great variability of inter-observer disagreements for central stenosis diagnostics depending
on the used classification.
Objective of assessment:
This study investigates the level of agreement between lumbar magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
reports created by a deep learning neural network (CoLumbo) and the radiologists’ reading.
Summary of method:
A total of 382 (53.4 % females, 46.6 % males and average age 49.52±13.20) prospective consecutive
patients in 3 different healthcare centers referred to L-spine MRI for back or leg pain were analyzed
by the software CoLumbo for the presence of stenosis on all lumbar levels, by radiologists using it
and radiologists not using the dedicated software. In case of disagreement between radiologists, a
radiologist-arbiter opinion was used to establish majority opinion. Axial and sagittal 2D and 3D
acquisition series were used for the assessment.
MRI machines used:
•
•
•
Siemens Aera
Siemens Verio
GE Signa HDxt
Findings
From the total of 156 debatable cases, in 88% (138 cases) of the cases the arbiter opinion has
coincided with that of the radiologist using CoLumbo. In the rest 12% (18 cases) of the cases, the
arbiter opinion has coincided with that of the radiologist not using the software. The reported
sensitivity and specificity of CoLumbo were 92.70% and 99.04%, respectively.
Clinical conclusion:
The introduction into practice of such AI-based tools (CoLumbo) would precisely predict the presence
of stenosis and thus decrease the observer variability in assessing lumbar spinal stenosis severity
based on MRI and its relation to cross- sectional spinal canal area. This would result in timely and
effective surgical treatment and improved quality of life for these patients.
About Medical University Varna:
Medical University Varna is a leading medical institution located in Varna, Bulgaria. The university provides the
highest quality medical education and research in Bulgaria. The university is home to some of the most
respected medical professionals in the region and is known for its innovative research and clinical practice.
Page 1 of 1