Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40339039›Full record

SynthesisInternational journal of dermatology2025

Diagnostic Accuracy of Novel Optical Imaging Techniques for Melanoma Detection: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Noémi Nóra Varga, Lili Gulyás, Fanni Adél Meznerics, Katarina Sofia Barkovskij-Jakobsen, Bence Szabó, Péter Hegyi, András Bánvölgyi, Márta Medvecz, Norbert Kiss

Abstract readMeta-AnalysisSystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in International journal of dermatology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Review
  3. Article
  4. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Noémi Nóra VargaDepartment of Dermatology, Venereology and Dermatooncology, Faculty of Medicine, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2057-2973
Lili GulyásDepartment of Dermatology, Venereology and Dermatooncology, Faculty of Medicine, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary.
Fanni Adél MeznericsDepartment of Dermatology, Venereology and Dermatooncology, Faculty of Medicine, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary.
Katarina Sofia Barkovskij-JakobsenDepartment of Dermatology, Venereology and Dermatooncology, Faculty of Medicine, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary.
Bence SzabóCentre for Translational Medicine, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary.
Péter HegyiCentre for Translational Medicine, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary.
András BánvölgyiDepartment of Dermatology, Venereology and Dermatooncology, Faculty of Medicine, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary.
Márta MedveczDepartment of Dermatology, Venereology and Dermatooncology, Faculty of Medicine, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary.
Norbert KissDepartment of Dermatology, Venereology and Dermatooncology, Faculty of Medicine, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary.

Funding

National Research, Development and Innovation Office 2019National Research, Development and Innovation Office EFOP-3.6.3-VEKOP-16-2017-00009National Research, Development and Innovation Office FK_131916
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

The incidence of melanoma is increasing worldwide, requiring early detection to improve survival rates. Although dermoscopy is the standard non-invasive tool for diagnosing melanoma, it relies on experience and skill. Advances in optical imaging technologies and artificial intelligence have the potential to improve diagnostic accuracy. Our objective was to compare the diagnostic accuracy of novel non-invasive optical imaging techniques for melanoma detection. A systematic literature search was conducted in three databases (Medline, Embase, and CENTRAL) on November 15, 2023. Inclusion criteria focused on studies comparing the accuracy of optical imaging methods against histopathology. Outcomes consisted of measures of diagnostic accuracy. Random-effects meta-analyses were performed for each method with 95% confidence intervals to summarize all relevant effect sizes. Of the 16,239 records, 141 articles met the inclusion criteria, of which 138 articles were eligible for the meta-analysis. Reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM) and dermoscopy combined with artificial intelligence (DSC + AI) had the highest sensitivity (0.93), with DSC + AI showing higher specificity (0.77 [0.70-0.83]) than RCM (0.749 [0.7475-0.7504]). Multispectral imaging combined with AI also showed high sensitivity (0.92 [0.82-0.97]) and relatively high specificity (0.80 [0.67-0.89]). Standalone dermoscopy exhibited balanced sensitivity (0.87 [0.84-0.90]) and specificity (0.82 [0.78-0.86]). In melanoma diagnosis, both RCM and DSC + AI can serve as second-step optical evaluation methods for suspicious lesions following initial screening with DSC. By maintaining a strong emphasis on multimodal imaging, healthcare providers could improve early detection and outcomes for patients with melanoma.

Indexed as

DermoscopyMelanomaOptical ImagingSkin NeoplasmsArtificial IntelligenceEarly Detection of CancerHumansMicroscopy, ConfocalSensitivity and Specificityartificial intelligencedermoscopydiagnosishistologymelanomameta‐analysisnon‐invasiveoptical imagingsystematic review

Identifiers

PMID40339039
PMCPMC12418919

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.