New Device to Spot Cancerous Mole

A new device developed by scientists that resembles a hairdryer could help identify malignant melanomas.

The hand-held machine, called the MelaFind, can tell with considerable accuracy if a mole is turning into a cancerous growth even when a highly trained dermatologist may not be sure, the Daily Express reported.

Melanoma - Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment & Prevention
Melanoma of the skin is a dangerous type of skin cancer that usually appears as a cancerous mole due to exposure to the sun’s damaging UV rays.

It has been cleared for use in the UK and Europe.

The device, which is as handy as a hairdryer, works by firing light into the skin where a suspicious mole is situated. It then analyses the way light is bounced back to work out the likelihood that cancer might be developing.

In just one minute, it can analyse all the information it receives and calculate the chances that a tumour might be developing.

Quiz on Skin
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If it suspects one is, a biopsy can be carried out and tissue sent off to a laboratory for testing.

Tests suggest the device is 98 per cent accurate at predicting which moles are turning cancerous.

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Tattooing, that is fast becoming a fashion statement and is very popular among the young can increase the risk of skin cancer, doctors warn.

It can also slash the number of unnecessary biopsies by up to 90 per cent.

Source-ANI

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