Dr. Renê Gerhard, cytopathologist, has published an article in the journal “Cytopathology” in collaboration with Gaël Hammer, epidemiologist, Corinne Selle, cytotechnologist, and Dr. Cioly Rivero-Colmenarez, Head of the Cytology Unit of the anatomic pathology service, on anal smear cytology for anal cancer screening.

This is the first study published in Luxembourg on digital pathology/cytopathology and artificial intelligence (AI). Access the study here.

The study showed that digitizing images of anal smears (digital cytology) combined with AI algorithms allowed the detection of more high-risk precancerous lesions than conventional optical microscopy.

Digital cytology with AI had already been introduced in 2022 by Dr. Marc Fischer and his team within the Gynecological Cytology Service for cervical cancer screening.

Although further studies are needed to confirm the results of this study, the method appears promising and will enable faster and more accurate diagnosis of anal cancer.