Playing check-a-mole

There are countless AI medical diagnostic tools being used by health services the world over. They allow vast numbers of scans and images from patients, biopsy samples, and microscope slides to be checked over very quickly for obvious health problems. The NHS uses one called DERM to check suspicious skin moles. The AI is trained on huge numbers of images of different kinds of mole and can quickly discern whether that brown spot on the patient’s skin is entirely benign or whether it’s something more sinister.

Now, I’ve got a tiny patch of pigment below my right eye, which probably first appeared a few years ago. I don’t think it’s changed, it’s not raised, it’s not itchy, there are no blood vessels running over it under the skin or anything obviously suspicious.

Nevertheless, I thought I’d check out some of the online check-a-mole AI apps that are available. I took a macro shot of the patch in question, adjusted the exposure to compensate for light levels in the bathroom and uploaded it to one of the sites after creating a temporary login. It took about 30 seconds to scan it and told me to seek urgent medical attention, as it might be basal cell carcinoma.

Well, that was a bit scary to say the least, but the site wanted payment to tell me more and to give me a percentage likelihood of it actually being that condition. So, I deleted browser cookies and created another temporary account so I could have another free go. Cheeky, yes, but what the hey?

This time I simply uploaded the original image rather than the one in which I’d adjusted exposure, and it came back and said there was nothing to see here, other than a bit of dryness to my skin. I really ought to moisturise…but those creams make my eyes sting.

I tried another check-a-mole site. And this one said that my skin had an area of hyperpigmentation, basically a sun spot, age spot, or lentigo. Benign. Didn’t mention carcinomas at all. But it advised me to see a doctor if I were worried or if symptoms occurred, such as changes in the patch or itchiness, bleeding, or anything like that. At least it didn’t ask for payment to give me the additional advice.

Another site told me it was likely to be actinic keratosis and there was a very low chance of any other condition. I don’t think it is, it has none of the hallmarks.

There are lots of apps out there for your smart phone, they generally seem to expect payment or for you to earn points to get an analysis. I wouldn’t trust any of them. If you have a lesion on your skin that you’re worried about talk to your GP and get it checked properly.