A Failed Technology?

People are addicted to downloading new apps to their phones to enhance what they can do on their androids or iPhones. There is always a risk when it comes to downloading an app - how well it will work and how much satisfaction it will bring. But what about an app that can help detect skin cancer?

There are multiple apps that claim to detect skin cancer. People take a picture of a suspicious mole on their body and send it to be analyzed, and the application determines whether or not the mole is cancerous. Sure, this seems like a cheaper, easier, and more convenient solution to having to go to the dermatologist. However, studies at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center have shown that these apps postpone diagnosis and can be harmful instead of helpful. Four apps were tested, and on average, three of the four incorrectly diagnosed 30% or more melanomas.

Researchers studied 188 moles, 60 of which were diagnosed as melanoma by a dermatologist. When using the apps, the researchers found that the accuracy of the results varied greatly. The best apps were able to diagnose cancerous moles with a 98.1% accuracy, and the worst apps were only able to detect melanoma with 6.8% accuracy.  The app that has the highest accuracy for melanoma detection actually has the images sent to board-certified dermatologists, and the user received a response within 24 hours. However, according to Dr. Darrell Rigel, “…the difference between these and 'real' in-office melanoma diagnostic devices is the difference of a toy car versus a real car. One you play with, and the other works."

These apps state that they are good for helping users track suspicious moles on their body, and the disclaimers say that they are intended for educational purposes. However, dermatologists are concerned that people who are unable to afford a visit to an actual doctor are going to rely on these apps for melanoma detection. This is dangerous because the apps are incredibly inaccurate. If a person is concerned about a lesion on his or her body, it is important to go to a dermatologist.

The U.S. FDA announced in July 2011 that they would regulate apps that coincide with medical devices, and in 2012 Congress passed the FDA Safety and Innovation Act. This allows the FDA to regulate smartphone apps. It is important for the FDA to step in because with the accessibility of these apps, more people are going to rely on these for detection.