Cosmetic oncology: innocent mole or malignant melanoma? Subjective assessments, objective semiologyand aided diagnosis

Abstract

Dermoscopy is a well established non invasive technique which allows the clinician to confirm his/her early diagnosis of so called “early melanoma”. In several cases “early melanoma” is difficult to recognize versus innocent moles. In this position paper experts in the field of melanoma compare the personal diagnostic “eye-brain system” versus the dermoscopic imaging combined with the computerized pattern analysis of pigmented skin lesions. Digital image processing pattern recognition seems to be presently a reliable tool for aiding doctors in differentiating innocent moles versus the “early melanoma of the skin”. The Medical Devices equipped with Artificial Intelligence should however rely on peculiar measurements extracted by the pattern analysis in order to provide the objective motivations of a diagnosis to clinicians and not simply based on image matching recognition. Experts need the motivations of a potential diagnostic aid.