photo: complex.com
A new app has been developed that is supposed to be able to detect cancer in a patient. It will soon be accessible in the UK and it is called Mole Detect Pro.
It works by taking a picture with a special camera that scans a dermatological blemish or growth and then sends examines it before sending a diagnoses response. The diagnosis is then sent back to the app user within 24 hours.
The app analyzes the skin blemish or growth using an algorithm that grades the picture for the five dermatological parameters, called ABCDE, and releases a diagnosis.
The five dermatological parameters for skin abnormalities that are suspicious in ABCDE are: Asymmetry, Border, Color, Diameter, and Evolution (changing size, color, shape).
A leading dermatologist in the UK is very interested in this APP. The app was developed and marketed in the United States by the same researchers that have developed the now famous eye test called Eye Netra.
Another version of the app, a beta version is already available on the market in the United States. The version has been successfully employed in detecting melanoma in the US.
Another version of the app is also in development that is designed to identify the so called 'ugly duckling' moles, which are moles that stand out from surroundings ones, because they do not match any or very few of its neighbor's characteristics. Ugly duckling moles are some of the most dangerous moles, and therefore their identification is very important.
Some in the medical community however, are not sold on the app, at least not totally. Furthermore, the FDA has imposed no regulations on the marketing of apps for medical diagnosis.
A test conducted by the Journal of American Medicine dermatology, resulted in three out of four of the apps misdiagnosing growths that were melanoma as 'unconcerning', at least 30% of the time during testing.
Doctors are also concerned that, if people are told by an app that a mole is unconcerning they might then forego further examination by a dermatologist, and this could pose serious risk to the person's health.
Indoor tanning remains to date, the most common cause of skin cancer.
Source: MNT 3.22.13
It works by taking a picture with a special camera that scans a dermatological blemish or growth and then sends examines it before sending a diagnoses response. The diagnosis is then sent back to the app user within 24 hours.
The app analyzes the skin blemish or growth using an algorithm that grades the picture for the five dermatological parameters, called ABCDE, and releases a diagnosis.
The five dermatological parameters for skin abnormalities that are suspicious in ABCDE are: Asymmetry, Border, Color, Diameter, and Evolution (changing size, color, shape).
A leading dermatologist in the UK is very interested in this APP. The app was developed and marketed in the United States by the same researchers that have developed the now famous eye test called Eye Netra.
Another version of the app, a beta version is already available on the market in the United States. The version has been successfully employed in detecting melanoma in the US.
Another version of the app is also in development that is designed to identify the so called 'ugly duckling' moles, which are moles that stand out from surroundings ones, because they do not match any or very few of its neighbor's characteristics. Ugly duckling moles are some of the most dangerous moles, and therefore their identification is very important.
Some in the medical community however, are not sold on the app, at least not totally. Furthermore, the FDA has imposed no regulations on the marketing of apps for medical diagnosis.
A test conducted by the Journal of American Medicine dermatology, resulted in three out of four of the apps misdiagnosing growths that were melanoma as 'unconcerning', at least 30% of the time during testing.
Doctors are also concerned that, if people are told by an app that a mole is unconcerning they might then forego further examination by a dermatologist, and this could pose serious risk to the person's health.
Indoor tanning remains to date, the most common cause of skin cancer.
Source: MNT 3.22.13
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