Artificial intelligence could change how skin cancer is detected.
A study led by the University of Essex and Check4Cancer has created a new AI framework that can identify 85 per cent of skin cancer cases when used with current assessment methods.
The framework, called the C4C risk score, is designed to help triage patients faster and reduce waiting lists by spotting non-suspicious lesions early.
The AI framework, developed alongside Anglia Ruskin University and Addenbrookes Hospital, is based on patient data alone.
Dr Haider Raza, lead researcher, said: "We have developed an AI framework solely based on metadata and observed that it can separate suspicious skin lesions from non-suspicious ones with a high sensitivity."
The project analysed 53,601 pieces of metadata from 25,105 patients who attended Check4Cancer’s private skin cancer diagnosis clinics between 2015 and 2022.
The AI uses this data to predict whether a person has skin cancer based on skin lesion descriptions and personal characteristics.
The C4C risk score has a balanced accuracy of 71 per cent, outperforming current assessment methods.
Professor Gordon Wishart, chief medical officer at Check4Cancer, said: "Our new AI model, which combines the C4C risk score together with skin lesion images, could lead to improved outcomes for patients."
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here