Consumer mobile teledermoscopy

In collaboration with Professor Monika Janda.

Aim: To advance the early detection of skin cancers.

Description: Using a special lens attachment for mobile phone cameras, consumers can take a photo of a mole that looks suspicious and send it to a dermatologist for telediagnosis.  Studies suggest that the quality of the photos is adequate. This project is considering consumer and clinician acceptability of using such devices, and assessing potential business models and health economics to support wider implementation.

Progress: Early studies suggest patients can select atypical moles and can photograph these using mobile teledermatoscopes. However, they also often photographed benign moles, suggesting a need for more education about the features of atypical moles (Janda et al 2014). Further research of the use of mobile teledermatoscopes is underway.