New non-invasive method
Kaunas University of Technology
A patented computer-aided diagnostic system developed by Lithuanian
scientists proved to be more than 90% accurate in detecting malignancy in
diagnostic images of skin lesions acquired from 100 patients.
In
Europe, melanoma is the fifth most common type of cancer and is the major cause
of death from skin cancer. Northern Europe displays the largest
age-standardised rate mortality of 3.8 per 10,000 in the region, with an
incidence of 23.4.
Excision of a primary tumour remains essential in diagnosing melanoma, and the decision for the operation is generally based on the dermatoscopic evaluation of the lesion.
However, the accuracy of melanoma clinical diagnosis is only at 65% and
strongly relies on the experience of the physician-dermatologist carrying out
the analysis.
"The novelty of our method is that it combines diagnostic information obtained from different non-invasive imaging technologies such as optical spectrophotometry and ultrasound. Based on the results of our research, we can confirm that the developed automated system can complement the non-invasive diagnostic methods currently applied in the medical practice by efficiently differentiating melanoma from a melanocytic mole," says Professor Renaldas Raisutis, head of the team behind the research at Kaunas University of Technology.
In
the study, carried out by the researchers of two Lithuanian universities,
diagnostic images of skin lesions acquired from 100 different patients were evaluated.
By comparing and analysing complex data on skin tumours recorded by different
techniques, the researchers were able to develop a novel diagnostic system,
differentiating melanoma from a benign nevus with accuracy higher than 90%.
"An
efficient diagnosis of an early-stage malignant skin tumour could save critical
time: more patients could be examined and more of them could be saved,"
says Prof Raisutis.
According
to Prof Raisutis, the novel diagnostic system is firstly aimed at medical
professionals; he estimates that the price of the final product might be
affordable even for smaller medical institutions. However, the team is also
thinking about the solutions for individual use at home.
Following
the research, the prototype of the technology was developed, and the clinical
research is being carried out complying with the requirements of the protocol
for the clinical research confirmed by the regional bioethics committee.
The
invention was patented in Lithuania (Patent No. LT6670B) and the patent applications
filed for Patent Cooperation Treaty and the United States Patent and Trademark
Office.
The
above-described method and technology were developed within the framework of
the project "SkinImageFusion: Complex Analysis Method of
Spectrophotometric and Ultrasound Data for the Automatic Differential Diagnosis
of Early Stage Malignant Skin Tumours," funded by Lithuanian Research
Council and carried out by a joint team of Kaunas University of Technology and
Lithuanian University of Health Sciences (the latter headed by Professor
Skaidra Valiukeviciene) in 2017-2020. Three doctoral dissertations were
defended on the basis of this research.
