Moletest
Encyclopedia
Moletest is a UK based company and the World’s first online remote mole screening service for the detection of non-melanoma ( e.g. Basal cell carcinoma
, Squamous cell carcinoma
) and melanoma
skin cancers in moles. The service was launched in September 2010 and uses a unique ‘computational vision’ to assess photographic images of lesions (melanocytic nevus
) against known case results – providing a ‘traffic light’ based evaluation where green is a ‘normal’ lesion, amber a ‘borderline’ lesion with potentially unpredictable biological behaviour, and red a potentially ‘cancerous’ one.
(DIT) and Dr Dmitriy Dubovitskiy of the Bauman Moscow State Technical University . Funding was provided by Science Foundation Ireland
and is supported by Hothouse, the technology transfer office of DIT. To use the service consumers are required to register an account, upload an (5MP) image of the suspect mole to Moletest’s website – this can even be taken on a mobile phone – pay a screening fee and get their results. The trained computerised system - which is systematically supervised and audited by a panel of advisory dermatologists - evaluates the customer’s image against a ‘bank’ of known results (a plethora of clinical images of moles) to see if there are any characteristics consistent with previous cases of cancer.
Basal cell carcinoma
Basal-cell carcinoma is the most common type of skin cancer. It rarely metastasizes or kills. However, because it can cause significant destruction and disfigurement by invading surrounding tissues, it is still considered malignant. Statistically, approximately 3 out of 10 Caucasians may develop a...
, Squamous cell carcinoma
Squamous cell carcinoma
Squamous cell carcinoma , occasionally rendered as "squamous-cell carcinoma", is a histologically distinct form of cancer. It arises from the uncontrolled multiplication of malignant cells deriving from epithelium, or showing particular cytological or tissue architectural characteristics of...
) and melanoma
Melanoma
Melanoma is a malignant tumor of melanocytes. Melanocytes are cells that produce the dark pigment, melanin, which is responsible for the color of skin. They predominantly occur in skin, but are also found in other parts of the body, including the bowel and the eye...
skin cancers in moles. The service was launched in September 2010 and uses a unique ‘computational vision’ to assess photographic images of lesions (melanocytic nevus
Melanocytic nevus
A melanocytic nevus is a type of lesion that contains nevus cells .Some sources equate the term mole with "melanocytic nevus". Other sources reserve the term "mole" for other purposes....
) against known case results – providing a ‘traffic light’ based evaluation where green is a ‘normal’ lesion, amber a ‘borderline’ lesion with potentially unpredictable biological behaviour, and red a potentially ‘cancerous’ one.
Working with the NHS
Moletest (UK) Ltd has been set up to provide an easy-to-use, remotely accessible online service for members of the public who are worried about a suspicious mole. The service provides straightforward information about skin cancer and gives advice based on highly sophisticated analysis of a digital image of a suspect mole. The Moletest service is not a substitute for existing medical services and has been designed to work in harmony with GP surgeries – forwarding suspect results directly onto consumers GPs. It is a first stage assessment that will either largely eliminate the need for unnecessary biopsies, or, more importantly, give consumers vital early warning signs of a potential problem.Technology
The technology behind the Moletest service was created by Prof. Jonathan Blackledge from Dublin Institute of TechnologyDublin Institute of Technology
Dublin Institute of Technology was established officially in 1992 under the but had been previously set up in 1978 on an ad-hoc basis. The institution can trace its origins back to 1887 with the establishment of various technical institutions in Dublin, Ireland...
(DIT) and Dr Dmitriy Dubovitskiy of the Bauman Moscow State Technical University . Funding was provided by Science Foundation Ireland
Science Foundation Ireland
Science Foundation Ireland ), is the statutory body in the Republic of Ireland with responsibility for disbursing funds for basic science research with a strategic focus...
and is supported by Hothouse, the technology transfer office of DIT. To use the service consumers are required to register an account, upload an (5MP) image of the suspect mole to Moletest’s website – this can even be taken on a mobile phone – pay a screening fee and get their results. The trained computerised system - which is systematically supervised and audited by a panel of advisory dermatologists - evaluates the customer’s image against a ‘bank’ of known results (a plethora of clinical images of moles) to see if there are any characteristics consistent with previous cases of cancer.
Controversies
The technology has been widely acclaimed by the medical community and is supported by Professor Rino Cerio a consultant dermatologist at the St Bartholomew’s (Barts) and the London Hospital. However, some critics have warned that the technology must not be seen by consumers as being a replacement for seeking traditional medical advice- it’s a complimentary service designed to reduce unnecessarily referrals in the NHS.External links
- Moletest website
- Cancer Research UK
- YouTube Video: Moletest technology and a step-by-step guide on how to use the service
- YouTube Video: Prof Rino Cerio explains to worried patients how to check suspect moles
- YouTube Video: Prof Rino Cerio on the risks of melanoma and moles
- Professional Website for Prof Jonathan Blackledge