A recent study has revealed that artificial intelligence can help identify people who are at a higher risk of developing melanoma, one of the most dangerous forms of skin cancer. Researchers used AI to analyze healthcare registry data collected from Sweden’s entire adult population, making it possible to detect early risk patterns before the disease becomes visible.
The study examined data from over 6 million individuals, including factors such as age, gender, medical diagnoses, medication history, and socioeconomic background. Over a five-year period, 38,582 people developed melanoma, which represented 0.64% of the study population. By analyzing these patterns, the AI model was able to predict which individuals were more likely to develop skin cancer in the future.
Researchers found that the most advanced AI model correctly distinguished future melanoma cases in about 73% of cases, compared to only 64% accuracy when using basic factors like age and sex alone. More importantly, the system could identify small groups of people with a significantly higher risk, where the chance of developing melanoma within five years rose to nearly 33%. This could allow doctors to focus screening efforts on high-risk groups more efficiently.
Although the technology is not yet ready for routine hospital use, experts believe it could become an important tool for personalized risk assessment and early cancer screening strategies in the future. The study highlights how AI can support healthcare professionals by improving early detection and helping save lives through timely intervention.
