Three of 4 smartphone applications incorrectly diagnosed skin cancer lesions
Relying on smartphone applications that claim to evaluate a user’s photographs of skin lesions for the likelihood of cancer may delay the diagnosis of melanoma and timely, lifesaving treatment. Smartphone apps evaluated by researchers at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine returned highly variable and often inaccurate feedback.
“These tools may help patients be more mindful about their health care and improve communication between themselves and their physicians, but it’s important that users don’t allow their ‘apps’ to take the place of medical advice and physician diagnosis,” said lead researcher Laura Ferris, MD, PhD, assistant professor, Department of Dermatology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine.
Study results, published online in JAMA Dermatology, showed that 3 of the 4 smartphone applications scientists tested provided incorrect “unconcerning” diagnoses for 30% or more melanomas based on application evaluation of user images.
The study reviewed applications available in 2 popular smartphone platforms that are often available for free or at a very low cost and are not subject to any regulatory oversight or validation. These tools are often marketed to nonclinical users. Using a digital image for analysis, the apps help users decide whether their skin lesions are concerning. For their study, researchers uploaded 188 images of skin lesions to each of the 4 applications. The images were analyzed by the applications in different ways, including automated algorithms and reviews by an anonymous board-certified dermatologist.
The application in which dermatologists reviewed user images (at $5 per image evaluation) was the only one to provide high sensitivity in diagnosis. Of the 53 melanomas, the experts reading the images diagnosed only 1 as benign.
Study authors pointed out that the possibility of relying on the application’s free or low-cost evaluation is particularly troubling for the uninsured or economically disadvantaged. “If they see a concerning lesion but the smartphone app incorrectly judges it to be benign, they may not follow up with a physician,” said Ferris.
Source: UPMC.