The Risks of Relying on Unvalidated AI Apps for Skin Cancer Diagnosis
Mobile apps equipped with artificial intelligence (AI) are increasingly used to aid in various medical tasks, including diagnosing skin cancer. While the idea of quick and easy skin cancer diagnosis may sound appealing, it's essential to be aware of the potential risks associated with relying on AI apps that have not been clinically validated. Clinical validation involves rigorous testing and evaluating the app's accuracy and reliability using real-world patient data. Without proper validation, there is no guarantee that the AI app's assessments are trustworthy or safe.
The Main Problems With Lack of Clinical Validation for AI Apps For Skin Cancer
Misdiagnosis and False Reassurance:
Unvalidated AI apps can provide incorrect diagnoses, leading to potentially harmful consequences. This could be because of the quality of the AI itself or the poor quality or limited quantity of the data it has been trained on. Unvalidated AI apps for skin cancer may either misidentify benign lesions as malignant or vice versa, causing unnecessary anxiety for users or, worse, delaying the diagnosis of actual skin cancer. Relying on such apps may provide false reassurance or unnecessary alarm, which can have severe implications for a person's health.
Complex Nature of Skin Cancer Diagnosis:
Diagnosing skin cancer is a complex process that requires a trained medical professional's expertise. Skin cancer can manifest in various forms and stages, making it challenging even for experienced dermatologists to diagnose accurately. AI apps, particularly those lacking clinical validation, may not be able to assess the full spectrum of skin lesions accurately. Or, they may make claims of accuracy that are not born out in reality.
Delay in Proper Medical Evaluation:
Depending solely on an unvalidated AI app for skin cancer diagnosis might lead individuals to postpone seeking professional medical evaluation. Early detection and timely treatment are crucial factors in successfully managing skin cancer. Relying on an app may result in unnecessary delays and, subsequently, more advanced stages of the disease.
Ethical and Legal Implications:
The use of unvalidated AI apps for medical diagnosis raises ethical and legal concerns. Users who suffer harm due to incorrect app assessments may question who bears responsibility for their misdiagnosis. Additionally, regulatory authorities may address such issues, potentially leading to app removal or legal actions.
Dermalyser:
AI Medical Technology's Dermalyser is a diagnostic decision support system empowered with advanced AI. The primary function is to classify the skin cancer type malignant melanoma using image analysis combined with deep learning. Dermalyser has been evaluated in an independent clinical study run across 37 primary care facilities in Sweden. Our AI achieved an AUC score of 0.96 in the trial, significantly outperforming Dermatologists and General Practitioners.
Our AI is developed and trained based on quality-controlled dermatoscopic images of patients’ skin lesions and associated patient data.
Conclusion:
While AI has the potential to revolutionise healthcare, especially in the field of dermatology, it's crucial to exercise caution when using unvalidated AI apps for skin cancer diagnosis. If you choose to use AI apps, ensure they have undergone rigorous clinical validation to maximise their accuracy and reliability. It is essential to make informed decisions when it comes to medical diagnoses. Always consult with a qualified healthcare professional for a proper evaluation and diagnosis.
Disclaimer:
The above information does not constitute medical advice. Any questions or concerns about your health should always be directed to a qualified healthcare provider.
Dermalyser has not been cleared or approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Dermalyser is for use by qualified healthcare professionals only. The results are not intended to be the sole basis for diagnosis. Results are intended to be used in conjunction with other clinical and diagnostic findings, consistent with professional standards of practice.