Objectives To present the early results of a clinical trial with SIA.

Methods Spectrophotometric inputs from the skin were analysed using complex algorithms to return high-resolution information regarding total melanin content of the epidermis and papillary dermis, collagen and haemoglobin content as well as the presence of melanin in the papillary dermis.

Results Simple, highly reproducible and reliable features were identified, e.g. the presence of dermal melanin, collagen holes and 'erythematous blush' with blood displacement. These simple features were found to be highly specific (80.1%) and sensitive (82.7%) for melanoma in a dataset of 348 pigmented lesions (52 melanomas) and compared very favourably with dermatoscopy when analysed using receiver-operator characteristic curves.

Conclusions This first clinical trial with SIAscopy has yielded very promising results and delivers new, useful information to the clinician diagnosing pigmented skin lesions.