Laser test that spots skin cancer without a biopsy

A NEW 60-second scan can detect skin cancer without a biopsy.

The device checks for basal cell carcinoma (BCC), a common type of skin cancer that accounts for 75 per cent of cases.

Currently, dermatologists examine the skin by eye and perform a needle biopsy if necessary. The VivoSight scanner, recently approved for use in Britain, is held against the skin for less than a minute. It fires out beams of laser light and, based on how these bounce back, creates an image.

A dermatologist then examines this for tell-tale signs of cancer. The scanner was able to diagnose BCC in 48 per cent more cases than by eye, says research by the manufacturers published in the Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology.