Artificial intelligence (AI) technologies for assessing and triaging skin lesions referred to the urgent suspected skin cancer pathway: early value assessment

NICE has said that Deep Ensemble for Recognition of Malignancy (DERM, an artificial intelligence [AI] technology) can be used in teledermatology services in the NHS to assess and triage skin lesions in adults referred to the urgent suspected skin cancer pathway.

The NHS is collecting more evidence for DERM. You might be asked if details of your assessment can be collected as evidence. You can ask your healthcare professional about how your information will be stored and used.

About the technology

A skin lesion is an area of skin that looks different to the surrounding skin and can include moles or freckles. Your healthcare professional can send a digital image of a skin lesion to a teledermatology service. They assess the image to decide if you need a face-to-face appointment with a skin specialist. Using DERM helps them identify non-cancer skin lesions that do not need further review through a face-to-face appointment.

DERM should be used with safety measures to reduce the potential risk of missed or delayed cancer diagnoses. This includes a healthcare professional checking DERM’s assessment of skin lesions in black or brown skin.

Is this technology right for me?

Your healthcare professionals should give you clear information, talk with you about your options and listen carefully to your views and concerns. Your family can be involved too, if you wish. See our webpage on making decisions about your care.

Questions to think about

• How well does it work compared with other assessments?
• What are the risks or side effects? How likely are they?
• What happens if I do not want my skin lesion to be assessed by AI technology?
• How long will the assessment take?
• How do I get my results? Will there be a follow-up appointment?

Information and support

The NHS webpage on melanoma skin cancer may be a good place to find out more.

These organisations can give you advice and support:

• Melanoma UK, 0808 171 2455
• Skcin – The Karen Clifford Skin Cancer Charity, 0115 981 9116
• Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis Alliance, 01923 672 837
• Lupus UK, 01708 731 251

You can also get support from your local Healthwatch.

NICE is not responsible for the quality or accuracy of any information or advice provided by these organisations.

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