MelaFind(R) Results Improve Detection of Melanoma, Study Shows

MelaFind, developed by MELA Sciences, Inc.

, was shown to improve melanoma detection in a study of 179 dermatologists. The average sensitivity of dermatologists before obtaining the MelaFind output was 69 percent, and the average sensitivity after obtaining the MelaFind output was 94 percent, according to a recent study published online in the Archives of Dermatology on February 20, 2012. MelaFind, a non-invasive, multi-spectral computer vision system recently approved by the FDA, uses light from visible to near-infrared wavelengths to evaluate skin lesions up to 2.5 mm beneath the skin. The device analyzes the three-dimensional morphologic (i.e., structural) disorganization under the surface of the lesion and provides an unambiguous and easy to interpret output -- High Disorganization (Positive) or Low Disorganization (Negative) -- that a dermatologist can incorporate into the biopsy decision-making process.