Pigmented Lesion Assay to Improve Biopsy Specificity of Melanoma Diagnosis

Source: Coherent News, February 2018

A new study reports that use of a noninvasive pigmented lesion assay can improve biopsy specificity, which may allow dermatologists to miss fewer melanomas while reducing the number of benign lesions biopsied.
The utility study demonstrated that even pigmented lesion experts surgically biopsy about half as often and miss fewer melanomas when adding the pigmented lesion assay to their decision process. “We are excited to offer this noninvasive tool to aid dermatologist in the difficult diagnosis of melanoma,” said researcher Laura Korb Ferris, MD, PhD, associate professor of dermatology at the University of Pittsburgh. The study was published in JAMA Dermatology journal in October 2017.
As a part of the web-based study, 45 board-certified dermatologist familiar with pigmented lesion management each 60 clinical and dermoscopic images of clinically atypical pigmented lesions suggestive of melanoma. The images were reviewed without and with noninvasive pigmented lesion assay gene expression information and were then asked if the lesions should be biopsied. The researchers collected data between March 24, 2014, and November 13, 2015.