MedEsthetics magazines offers business education and in-depth coverage of the latest noninvasive cosmetic procedures for physicians and practice managers working in the medical aesthetics industry.
Issue link: https://medesthetics.epubxp.com/i/123304
ON TREND | By Inga Hansen Skin Analysis Technology Growing public awareness and new, proven technologies are increasing the profile of in-office diagnostic tools for skin cancer screening. A recent study on smartphone apps that allow home users to upload images of their moles and skin lesions for evaluation provides a valuable opportunity for physicians to educate their patients about the differences between automated phone apps and the professional diagnostic equipment available in dermatology offices. The perform the study, which appeared in JAMA Dermatology (online, January 16, 2013), researchers uploaded 188 photos of known lesions—128 benign lesions and 60 melanomas—to four different skin analysis apps. "The worst one only correctly identifi ed 6.8% of melanomas as concerning; the best one was an app that sent the images to a board-certifi ed dermatologist and MelaFind from MELA Sciences uses multi-spectral technology to noninvasively capture and display atypical lesions up to 2.5mm into the skin. The device's sophisticated algorithms objectively analyze the lesion and track data to help physicians determine which moles should be biopsied. Contact: 800.729.8849, melafind.com. 14 MAY/JUNE 2013 | MedEsthetics was accurate 98.1% of the time," says Laura Ferris, MD, a dermatologist with the department of dermatology, University of Pittsburgh and one of the study's author. Conversely, "There are lots of good studies to show that dermascopy improves the accuracy of diagnoses in the hands of trained individuals. It gives you a richer image and it sees deeper into the skin, so we can see structures that we can't see with the naked eye," says Dr. Ferris. "With Melafind, there are studies that show that it is highly sensitive for the diagnosis of melanoma. It also gives you a score to the degree of disorganization or atypia within a lesion. What these tool have going for them is not that somebody thought that they worked, but good hard, data behind them." Canfield Imaging Systems compact VEOS HD1 with cross-polarized lighting allows physician to view subdermal pigmentation and vascularity. Its precision optics and lighting deliver a bright and clear view of the finest detail. The VEOS also features a magnetically attached glass contact plate for immersion fluid dermoscopy and an optional iPhone integration sleeve for, highquality digital preview and image capture. The company also offers the VEOS HD2 with both polarized and non-polarized lighting to view subdermal pigmentation and vascularity or surface structure. Contact: 800.815.4330, canfieldsci.com. The Handyscope for the iPhone 5 from FotoFinder Systems features a twinlight mode that combines the advantages of cross-polarized and immersion fluid dermoscopy, enabling doctors to view elevated lesions as well as vascular conditions without compression. The Handyscope includes two flexible front pieces—one with a glass contact plate and one without. Contact: 888.501.0895, fotofinder-systems.com