Faced with sometimes very long waiting times to see a dermatologist, France Dermatologie centers offer screening based on imaging and remote expertise. The patient is photographed from several angles by a scanner capable of creating a complete map of the skin. Artificial intelligence identifies potentially suspicious lesions before the images are examined remotely by a dermatologist.
The network presents this system as a way to detect skin cancers more quickly in areas affected by a shortage of specialists. Centers are currently operating in Évreux, Gazeran, and Bergerac, with one opening planned in Nice. The examination costs €84 and is not covered by national health insurance, as the dermatologist responsible for interpreting the results is not present at the center.
Dermatologists denounce incomplete screening
The French National Union of Dermatologists and Venereologists acknowledges the value of digital imaging and artificial intelligence when used to assist physicians. However, it criticizes commercial devices that do not provide patients with a genuine consultation in the presence of a dermatologist. For example, a scanner cannot palpate a lesion, conduct a thorough patient interview, or examine certain areas that are difficult to photograph.
Professionals also fear that reassuring results could delay a medical consultation, while a suspicious lesion might escape detection by the algorithm or the transmitted images. The National Order of Pharmacists had already raised concerns about reports of patients falsely reassured by systems combining dermatoscopes, artificial intelligence, and remote expertise. These tools can therefore improve patient referrals, but they should not be considered a complete replacement for a clinical examination performed by a dermatologist.
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