Advances in imaging, battery life, and AI are fueling a resurgence of capsule endoscopy as a patient-friendly alternative to traditional endoscopy. Once limited by low diagnostic yield, today’s capsule technologies—like Medtronic’s AI-powered PillCam and CapsoVision’s CapsoCam—now deliver sensitivity and specificity rates approaching 100%. With FDA clearances for remote ingestion, the technology is expanding access to rural, pediatric, and mobility-limited populations. While capsule endoscopy remains purely diagnostic for now, it’s gaining traction as a cost-effective, minimally invasive option that could reduce unnecessary endoscopies, improve efficiency, and pave the way for hybrid therapeutic applications in the future. Key Takeaways
Author: Abhay Panchal
A UCLA-led study published in Gastroenterology found that fewer than 50% of average-risk adults with abnormal results from Guardant Health’s Shield blood-based colorectal cancer screening test underwent a follow-up colonoscopy within 6 months. Overall, just 56% eventually completed colonoscopy, limiting the test’s effectiveness in cancer prevention. Insurance status mattered: patients with Medicare Advantage were significantly less likely to receive timely follow-up than those with private insurance. Researchers stressed that abnormal blood-based results still require colonoscopy and called for system-level improvements to boost compliance. Key Takeaways
A prospective study led by Penn Medicine researchers shows that genetic screening for DPYD and UGT1A1 variants before chemotherapy can substantially reduce hospitalizations and ER visits from drug-related toxicities in gastrointestinal cancers. Median turnaround for results was 10 days, and more than half of patients had results before treatment. Despite NCCN only recently recommending that clinicians “consider” testing (Feb 2025), researchers urge broader adoption, citing both feasibility and patient safety. Key Takeaways
Noncolorectal gastrointestinal cancers — including gastric, esophageal, pancreatic, hepatocellular, biliary tract, and neuroendocrine tumors — are often diagnosed late and carry poor survival rates. Despite rising global burden, advances in precision oncology, immunotherapy, and multimodal treatment strategies are slowly shifting outcomes. Still, complications like cachexia, malnutrition, and late-stage presentation remain major barriers. Key Takeaways
Optum’s SCA Health has acquired U.S. Digestive Health (250+ providers, 40 practice sites, 24 ASCs in PA and DE), strengthening its presence in gastroenterology and outpatient surgery. Formed in 2019 through PE-backed consolidation, USDH now joins one of the nation’s largest ASC operators, underscoring the accelerating pace of corporate consolidation in GI. Key Takeaways from Industry Leaders
Massive layoffs at the CDC — including 600 permanent terminations and a 25% workforce reduction — are weakening the very programs gastroenterology depends on, from outbreak surveillance to cancer prevention. Combined with falling reimbursements, rising costs, and physician shortages, these cuts risk leaving GI practices with sicker patients, fewer resources, and widening health inequities. Key Takeaways
A computer vision model trained on 4,487 endoscopic images was able to identify mucosal ulcerations in Crohn’s disease patients with greater consistency than gastroenterologists and with strong correlation to the Simple Endoscopic Score for Crohn’s Disease (SES-CD). Published in Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology, the study highlights how AI can bring objectivity and reproducibility to colonoscopy interpretation — areas where manual scoring has long been inconsistent. Key Takeaways
Researchers at Johns Hopkins and Stanford have trained an AI-driven surgical robot to autonomously perform portions of a gallbladder removal (cholecystectomy) on pig cadavers. The system, called Surgical Robot Transformer-Hierarchy (SRT-H), breaks procedures into subtasks, mimicking the hierarchy of human surgical teams. Trained on real surgical videos, the robot identified and clipped ducts and arteries without human voice prompts, showing early proof that autonomous surgery could one day be feasible — though real-world challenges like bleeding and organ movement remain. Key Takeaways
University of Geneva scientists developed the first comprehensive catalogue of gut microbiota subspecies and applied machine learning to stool samples, enabling detection of colorectal cancer in 90% of cases. This performance is close to colonoscopy’s 94% accuracy but at a fraction of the cost and discomfort. The approach could revolutionize non-invasive screening and expand into diagnostics for other cancers and diseases. Key Takeaways
The FDA has awarded breakthrough device designation to Quest Diagnostics’ Haystack MRD test, a highly sensitive ctDNA assay designed for patients with stage II colorectal cancer after surgery. The test could reshape how clinicians identify who truly benefits from adjuvant therapy — a decision that has long been clouded by uncertainty. Key Takeaways 1. A major step in early detection 2. Personalized precision 3. Backed by clinical evidence 4. Beyond colorectal cancer 5. Why it matters