Autonomous Imaging Device Matches Manual Dermoscopy

TOPLINE:

An autonomous total body photographic (TBP) and dermoscopic imaging device achieved comparable image quality and faster acquisition times than manual dermoscopy, in a prospective cohort study.

METHODOLOGY:

• Researchers conducted a study of 316 patients with atypical mole syndrome and ≥ 30 skin lesions > 3 mm in diameter at two dermatology clinics in Spain from March to October 2023.
• They evaluated an operator-free imaging device that captured whole-body and dermoscopic images of visible lesions, with high-resolution imaging for those > 3 mm.
• Two independent dermatologists assessed image quality. Diagnostic agreement and time efficiency for image acquisition were also evaluated.
• A total of 19,323 images from TBP (61 per patient) and 10,646 dermoscopic images of individual lesions from 3 to 10 mm were taken, with a total of 5323 lesions (mean, 32 per patient).

TAKEAWAY:

• The autonomous device achieved a mean image quality score of 9.84 compared with 9.44 for traditional manual digital dermoscopy methods.
• Two independent dermatologists showed high agreement in image-based diagnosis and management between the two devices, with concordance rates of 91.49% and 91.72%; 86% of discrepancies were related to small benign brown lesions.
• The mean imaging time was reduced with the autonomous device (518.77 seconds) compared with manual methods (541.82 seconds). The difference was significant in patients with > 40 lesions (mean, 663.68 vs 802.22 seconds; P = .02).

IN PRACTICE:

“These findings suggest that this autonomous device may have potential value in improving workflow efficiency, especially in high-volume settings,” the authors wrote, adding that the device’s ability “to deliver high-quality images swiftly could enhance the diagnostic process, making it a valuable tool for dermatologists in both routine and complex cases.”

SOURCE:

The study was led by Pau Rosés Gibert, MD, Dermatology Department, Hospital Clínic Barcelona, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain, and was published online on April 9 in JAMA Dermatology.

LIMITATIONS:

The study had a limited sample size and did not include patients with certain skin types or conditions, which could affect the generalizability of the findings.

DISCLOSURES:

The authors did not disclose study funding sources. Two authors reported being co-founders of the Dermavision Solutions and holding patents. Other authors also disclosed financial and nonfinancial relationships with several companies, including Dermavision Solutions, Almirall, ISDIN, BMS, Regeneron, Philogen, Pierre Fabre, and La Roche-Posay.

This article was created using several editorial tools, including AI, as part of the process. Human editors reviewed this content before publication.