Wednesday, July 29, 2026

Magnosco presents AI assistant for skin cancer diagnostics

Berlin-based MedTech company Magnosco has developed an AI-supported software solution for dermatoscopic assessment of skin lesions. The product, called idea®, short for interactive dermatoscopic examination assistant, is designed to support dermatology specialists particularly in the evaluation of difficult pigmented lesions.

According to the company, the software can substantially improve diagnostic accuracy in challenging cases. Magnosco cites an international reader study with 16 physicians trained in dermatoscopy. The study examined how the use of idea® affects diagnoses and management decisions.

Interpretable AI instead of a simple risk score

Magnosco positions idea® as an alternative to opaque black-box systems. The software is intended to make diagnostically relevant dermatoscopic features visible, including colours, symmetry and pattern characteristics. Its output is based on established dermatoscopic textbook knowledge.

In practical terms, the AI does not only generate an abstract score. It displays structures and feature lists that can be reviewed. Physicians can confirm, correct or add to these findings before the system provides its diagnostic classification.

According to Magnosco, the final diagnosis remains with the physician. The company describes this as a clinician-in-the-loop approach, designed to integrate medical expertise into the AI-supported workflow.

Reader study focused on difficult lesions

The two-phase international study assessed the value of idea® mainly in unclear and error-prone cases. Magnosco reports that diagnostic accuracy more than doubled when physicians worked with the software. The accuracy of treatment or management decisions increased by more than 35 percent, according to the company.

Magnosco also states that the participants gave the application an overall positive assessment for workflow suitability. The underlying paper by L. Szyc et al. on improving diagnostic and management accuracy in hard-to-diagnose pigmented skin lesions has been submitted to Dermatology Practical & Conceptual.

Dermatoscope and CE certification

In addition to the software, Magnosco has developed the digital dermatoscope Magnos®. The certified device is intended to provide standardised image capture with high colour fidelity. This addresses a key challenge for image-based AI in real-world care: variability caused by different cameras, lighting conditions or device changes.

The dermatoscope has been marketed mainly in Germany for more than a year. In 2025, the system received the iF Design Award. For idea®, Magnosco says the next milestone will be CE certification as a class IIa medical device.

After this regulatory step, the company plans to expand further in Germany and enter international markets. For dermatology and MedTech, the development is relevant because AI-supported assistance systems may play a growing role in early skin cancer detection if they can be integrated into clinical workflows and deliver transparent results.