A new AI-powered app is revolutionizing the way skin cancer is diagnosed, enabling quick and accurate screening via smartphones.
This is expected to significantly reduce waiting lists within the UK's National Health Service (NHS). This development follows the use of an earlier version of the technology, known as Derm AI, in the British healthcare system, where it helped detect approximately 20,000 cases of cancer in over 230,000 patients. That earlier version required a special camera lens, while the newer version works directly via a smartphone without any additional equipment and recently received the highest level of medical device certification in Europe.
The app, developed by the British healthcare company Skin Analytics, uses artificial intelligence to analyze images of moles and skin lesions, having been trained on thousands of images of known medical conditions. The system accurately identifies non-concerning cases and alerts the user to suspicious ones for review by doctors.
According to available data, the program achieved 99.8% accuracy in detecting melanoma, one of the most dangerous and deadly types of skin cancer.
The most prominent warning sign of the disease is the appearance of a new mole or a change in the shape or size of an existing mole. It can appear in any area of the body, but it is more common in sun-exposed areas.
Dr. Alexandra Kemp, Consultant Dermatologist and Clinical Director of Cancer Treatment at Amersham Hospital, said that introducing this technology into the diagnostic process has had a clear impact on increasing the efficiency of clinical work and improving the quality of care provided to patients.
She emphasized that early detection of skin cancer increases the chances of successful treatment, noting that making this technology available via smartphones, without the need for special equipment, expands access to early screening and speeds up the diagnosis process.
