Melanoma is 100% curable if found before it invades the dermis. Melafind is a new FDA approved tool that helps me assess the melanoma risk of a suspicious pigmented lesion .
While long clinical experience, I can differentiate between most benign and malignant pigmented lesions. Even with my experience, I cannot guarantee that I will find every melanoma. Melafind helps to improve the odds of early detection.
How does it work?
Melafind takes a picture of your lesion using seven wavelengths of light. Using a computer algorithm, the picture is analyzed, giving a score for risk of melanoma.
Does it always work?
No. Melafind is a tool that helps screen risk. It does not diagnose melanoma. When analyzing lesions, Melafind will error on the side of estimating a higher risk. Melafind is a tool that augments clinical judgment for your best health outcome. This means that not all lesions removed will be cancer.
Who should consider Melafind?
Anyone with a suspicious pigmented mole. Your initial screening will be done by your family doctor. There are two common groups of patients: Those with numerous pigmented lesions, or those with pigmented lesions that have changed.
Melafind can be used to assess lesions from 2-22 mm in size, but cannot be used in area of prior surgery.