Setting the standard for AI in dermatology - AIMed

Dr. Rubeta Matin, NHS Consultant Dermatologist, reveals the challenges of setting up a new national skin database to support the development of dermatological AI in the UK It's common knowledge that the chances of survival increase dramatically if melanoma is detected and treated early. However, many algorithm-based applications that claim to identify potentially dangerous-looking pigment on the skin have not been formally and appropriately validated in intervention studies. There are also not many systematic and rigorous reviews to discover the true accuracy of these skin cancer diagnosing algorithms, especially those that were tested in an artificial research setting that may not be representative of the real world. It's reasons like these that drive dermatologists to question whether the false assurance given by these applications may delay individuals from seeking medical advice. Last February, a new study published in the BMJ revealed mobile applications that assess the risks of suspicious moles may not be reliable enough to detect all forms of skin cancer.