SKIN CANCER CHECKS
Spectroscopic analysis of moles and skin lesions
Dermasensor painlessly shines light into the skin to estimate the probability of skin cancer.
- Skin cancers reflect light differently from normal skin lesions
- Dermasensor analyses the spectrum of light reflected from the skin
- Estimates probability of skin cancer
Elastic scattering spectroscopy is a technique for examining skin lesions to assess the likelihood of skin cancer.
It involves shining light into the skin. The light scatters and is reflected from the skin. The spectrum of light is then analysed and compared with spectra from normal skin and skin cancers. Based on the similarity to these known spectra, a score is allocated, indicating how closely the lesion’s spectrum resembles that of skin cancer.
In practice, elastic scattering spectroscopy can be a valuable technique for distinguishing between normal skin and skin cancer without the need for a surgical biopsy procedure.
What are the advantages of spectroscopy?
Spectroscopy has several advantages over biopsy:
- It’s a non-invasive, non-surgical procedure. There’s no pain, bleeding, infection or scarring.
- Spectroscopy is quick: a result is available in minutes.
- It’s less expensive than a biopsy procedure (however, no Medicare rebate is paid).
- Because it’s very easy, spectroscopy can be performed on lesions where biopsy might not be considered, providing more information than would otherwise be available.
MBBS, MA (Virtual Comm), Grad Cert Hlth Info, Grad Dip Comp Inf Sci
How it’s done
- The doctor or nurse places the Dermasensor device on the lesion to be analysed. Light is emitted from and absorbed into a small sensor about 2mm across, which makes direct contact with the skin.
- Five readings are taken. During each reading, you will hear a clicking noise, and you might feel a tapping sensation on your skin.
- The device takes about 10 seconds to analyse the readings and then gives a score, which roughly corresponds with the probability of the lesion being skin cancer.
- Based on the score, your doctor will advise on a suitable management plan for your lesion.
Limitations
No method of assessing skin lesions is 100 per cent accurate. Elastic scattering spectroscopy has a small chance of either:
- Failing to detect skin cancer.
- Incorrectly detecting skin cancer in a benign lesion.
Spectroscopic analysis is not as specific as a histological examination of a sample of skin tissue. In other words, it is not as useful for specifying the exact diagnosis of a given skin lesion.
Spectroscopy should only be used in addition to other assessment methods, such as clinical examination and dermoscopic photography.
References
Rodriguez-Diaz E, Bigio IJ, Geisse JK, Rabinovitz HS, Manolakos D, Hoang P, Cognetta AB. Evaluation of a handheld elastic-scattering spectroscopy device for the differentiation of benign and malignant skin lesions: a comparative study. JAMA Dermatol. 2023;159(1):1-8. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jdin.2023.08.019
Benvenuto-Andrade, Cristiane, Armand B. Cognetta and Danielle Manolakos. The safety and effectiveness of elastic scattering spectroscopy and machine learning in the evaluation of skin lesions for cancer. 8th World Congress of Teledermatology, Imaging and AI for Skin Diseases. https://doi.org/10.2196/35441
Salmon, P., Bonning, M. 2021. Use of elastic scattering spectroscopy and machine learning when assessing lesions suggestive of skin cancer. SPDA2021. 19th Annual Fall Dermatology Conference. https://www.dermasensor.com.au/downloads/DermaSensor_NZ%20IIS%20Study_Trifold%20Brochure_v3.pdf
Tepedino, K., Tablada, A. M., Barnes, E., & Silva, T. C. (2021). Clinical utility of a handheld elastic scattering spectroscopy tool and machine learning on the diagnosis and management of skin cancer by primary care physicians. SPDA2021. 19th Annual Fall Dermatology Conference. https://www.dermasensor.com.au/downloads/DermaSensor_DAII%20Reader%20Draft%20SDPA%20Final_Trifold%20Brochure_v3.pdf
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