4 ms·

I am a dermatologist, AI researcher and co-founder of an AI startup (skinsmart.ai) and I would agree with you regarding the utility of AI in making an accurate

by sungam 6y ago

I am a dermatologist, AI researcher and co-founder of an AI startup (skinsmart.ai) and I would agree with you regarding the utility of AI in making an accurate diagnosis of melanoma. I don't think it has a significant role it play in the Dermatology clinic for this application. However, I am very optimistic about the potential for AI to help in the triage of patients referred to dermatology by non-specialists. For this application you are not trying to diagnose melanoma but instead aiming to diagnose - with a high degree of accuracy benign lesions that do not need review in the Dermatology clinic.

sjg007 6y ago
If I had a benign lesion referred by my PCP to dermatology, I’d want a dermatologist to take a look at it. It’s never been difficult to get a dermatology appointment.
- sungam 6y ago
  Situation may be slightly different in the NHS (national health service) where there is an overwhelming number of referrals from general practitioners for suspected skin cancer most of which turn out to be benign. As a consequence there is lack of capacity to see patients with other skin conditions. Of course it's always possible to see a private Dermatologist if you have health insurance or are happy to pay.
  - sjg007 6y ago
    If that’s true that sounds like a different problem. Maybe they need to train more dermatologists? And if there are appointments available privately well... I don’t know what to say. Seems like an structural systemic failure which is odd. Maybe dermatologists are gaming the system to induce private pay..
    - sungam 6y ago
      The number of Dermatologists trained in the UK is entirely decided (and paid for) by central government. UK Dermatologists have for many years highlighted the need for training of more consultants.
      - sjg007 6y ago
        Sure but the US has similar restrictions and problems. Medicare DME pays for almost all of the residency spots. In 2015 there were 400 dermatology spots in the USA. I guess one issue is travel time. A lot of folks don't live near cities and have access to specialty care.
- BlueTemplar 6y ago
  Maybe for you, I would have needed more than 3 months to get one. Thankfully in my case the issue seems to have been benign and was gone in a month.
YeGoblynQueenne 6y ago
Is it necessary to go so far as making a diagnosis at all? Wouldn't it suffice to detect -and alert the user- that some of her moles have changed shape and she might need to have them looked at more carefully by an expert? This is a task that is very difficult to perform with the naked eye, especially for people with skin types that have lots of moles and an automated decision that could be relied on to detect otherwise imperceptible changes, could perhaps even save some lives.
- sungam 6y ago
  Yes this is the idea of mole mapping and there are 3D whole body photo imaging systems available for this with automated detection of changing lesions. It's harder to do on a smart phone but maybe possible.
  - YeGoblynQueenne 6y ago
    Thanks - I'll have a look at "mole mapping" now that I know the term.

by sungam 6y ago

sjg007 6y ago

If I had a benign lesion referred by my PCP to dermatology, I’d want a dermatologist to take a look at it. It’s never been difficult to get a dermatology appointment.

sungam 6y ago
Situation may be slightly different in the NHS (national health service) where there is an overwhelming number of referrals from general practitioners for suspected skin cancer most of which turn out to be benign. As a consequence there is lack of capacity to see patients with other skin conditions. Of course it's always possible to see a private Dermatologist if you have health insurance or are happy to pay.
- sjg007 6y ago
  If that’s true that sounds like a different problem. Maybe they need to train more dermatologists? And if there are appointments available privately well... I don’t know what to say. Seems like an structural systemic failure which is odd. Maybe dermatologists are gaming the system to induce private pay..
  - sungam 6y ago
    The number of Dermatologists trained in the UK is entirely decided (and paid for) by central government. UK Dermatologists have for many years highlighted the need for training of more consultants.
    - sjg007 6y ago
      Sure but the US has similar restrictions and problems. Medicare DME pays for almost all of the residency spots. In 2015 there were 400 dermatology spots in the USA. I guess one issue is travel time. A lot of folks don't live near cities and have access to specialty care.
BlueTemplar 6y ago
Maybe for you, I would have needed more than 3 months to get one. Thankfully in my case the issue seems to have been benign and was gone in a month.

YeGoblynQueenne 6y ago

Is it necessary to go so far as making a diagnosis at all? Wouldn't it suffice to detect -and alert the user- that some of her moles have changed shape and she might need to have them looked at more carefully by an expert? This is a task that is very difficult to perform with the naked eye, especially for people with skin types that have lots of moles and an automated decision that could be relied on to detect otherwise imperceptible changes, could perhaps even save some lives.

sungam 6y ago
Yes this is the idea of mole mapping and there are 3D whole body photo imaging systems available for this with automated detection of changing lesions. It's harder to do on a smart phone but maybe possible.
- YeGoblynQueenne 6y ago
  Thanks - I'll have a look at "mole mapping" now that I know the term.