Can a Smartphone App Really Detect Skin Cancer?

Your smartphone may be great for getting the latest movie listings and even providing directions to get you to the theater, but how well can it help you detect skin cancer? Not so well, according to researchers at the University of Pittsburgh.

Their study, published in JAMA Dermatology, found that "the performance of smartphone applications in assessing melanoma risk is highly variable, and three of four smartphone applications incorrectly classified 30% or more of melanomas as unconcerning."

The researchers say relying on the app instead of having a medical consultation often delays the diagnosis and can potentially harm users. They looked at four smartphone apps that evaluate melano…
Continue reading...

More About: apps, cancer, medical technology, study