Computer‐assisted diagnosis techniques (dermoscopy & spectro | Figure 1

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Computer‐assisted diagnosis techniques (dermoscopy & spectroscopy‐based) for diagnosing skin cancer

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Cochrane Review; 42 studies, 24 evaluating digital dermoscopy‐based computer‐assisted diagnosis (CAD) systems (Derm–CAD) in 23 study cohorts with 9602 lesions (1220 melanomas, at least 83 BCCs, 9 cSCCs), providing 32 datasets for Derm–CAD & seven for dermoscopy.

Objectives

To determine the accuracy of CAD systems for diagnosing cutaneous invasive melanoma & atypical intraepidermal melanocytic variants, basal cell carcinoma (BCC) or cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) in adults, & to compare its accuracy with that of dermoscopy.

Authors' conclusions

In highly selected patient populations all CAD types demonstrate high sensitivity, & could prove useful as a back‐up for specialist diagnosis to assist in minimising the risk of missing melanomas. However, the evidence base is currently too poor to understand whether CAD system outputs translate to different clinical decision–making in practice. Insufficient data are available on the use of CAD in community settings, or for the detection of keratinocyte cancers. The evidence base for individual systems is too limited to draw conclusions for practice. Prospective comparative studies are required that evaluate the use of already evaluated CAD systems as diagnostic aids, by comparison to face–to–face dermoscopy, and in participant populations that are representative of those in which the test would be used in practice.

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