SkinView Medic opens AI-powered skin cancer center in Le Bouscat

Opening in Le Bouscat, France, the medical facility SkinView Medic combines artificial intelligence skin scanning technology with on-site dermatologists and plastic surgeons to screen and treat skin cancer, as reported.

Key Clinical Takeaways:

• The SkinView Medic center in Le Bouscat features a Vectra WB360 full-body 3D scanner valued at 600,000 euros, developed by the American laboratory Canfield.
• The facility was established to address a national tripling of skin cancer cases between 1990 and 2023 alongside a 22 percent decline in practicing dermatologists from 2014 to 2022.
• Patients undergo full-body imaging to create a digital twin of their skin, followed by a physical dermoscopy exam by a physician to score lesions for malignancy.

Responding to Rising Skin Cancer Rates and Dermatologist Shortages

The facility represents an investment of over one million euros funded entirely by its three co-founders: plastic surgeon Romain Lavocat, dermatologist Vincent Cante, and plastic surgeon Guillaume Lemierre. According to data cited by the article from the French National Cancer Institute, skin cancer cases more than tripled between 1990 and 2023. Concurrently, data from the national union of dermatologists-venereologists recorded a 22 percent drop in the number of practicing dermatologists between 2014 and 2022.

We discovered diagnostic aid technologies based on artificial intelligence and wanted to create a dedicated medical dermatological center for skin cancer with screening, medical and surgical treatment, and follow-up, Romain Lavocat stated.

The Vectra WB360 Digital Twin Screening Process

The diagnostic workflow begins with a medical questionnaire and an initial consultation. Patients then step into a three-meter-by-two-meter scanner that captures a series of full-body photographs. Connected to four computers, the Vectra WB360 system uses artificial intelligence to reconstruct the images in three dimensions, generating a digital twin of the patient’s skin for longitudinal monitoring.

The AI system flags potential lesions exhibiting abnormal border criteria. Following the automated scan, a physician performs a dermoscopy to examine the flagged areas closely. Each lesion receives a specific risk score across eight different cancer types, allowing clinicians to determine immediately whether surgical removal is warranted. The artificial intelligence cannot do the work of the doctor, who bears the responsibility for the diagnosis, Romain Lavocat noted. But it allows us to go faster, and to secure our practice by reducing the risk of missing a lesion, with practically no false positives so far.

Comprehensive On-Site Patient Care and Treatment Pathways

Once clinicians qualify the lesions, patients enter a unified care pathway contained within the single medical facility. Lesions deemed doubtful require a follow-up dermoscopy within three to six months. When surgery is necessary, patients receive an appointment within 10 to 15 days. Four visiting surgeons perform the excisions on-site, successfully removing carcinomas. For confirmed melanoma cases, the center refers files to a multidisciplinary consultation meeting at the Bordeaux University Hospital. The clinic also treats precancerous lesions using photodynamic therapy.

Obtaining an initial appointment currently requires a two- to three-month wait via Doctolib. The center operates five days a week, accommodating 25 to 30 patient visits daily, and has treated over 5,000 patients since opening. The initial screening examination costs 150 euros, which is not covered by national health insurance but receives partial reimbursement from select mutual health funds. Standard medical consultations and follow-up checks are fully covered, while surgical fees are managed with minimized extra charges and a deferred payment option established through Crédit Agricole.

Expansion Plans Across France

With operations established and targeting an annual volume of 6,000 patients supported by a staff of five employees, the co-founders intend to replicate the model in other regions. We have the project to develop in Toulouse, perhaps in Rennes, Romain Lavocat told the article. The idea is first to build a team of doctors and surgeons to ensure the quality of care. Then to retain a minority stake in the capital of these medical centres, to which we would bring our SkinView Medic expertise.

Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for educational and scientific communication purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a qualified healthcare provider regarding any medical condition, diagnosis, or treatment plan.