World-first approach to improve melanoma outcomes arrives at The Alfred

The Alfred, in partnership with Monash University, is one of 15 health services in Australia, and the first in Victoria, to begin using the Vectra imaging machine with melanoma patients.

It is hoped the the machine will save lives by enabling medical teams to detect skin cancers earlier, and commence vital patient treatment sooner.

The Alfred’s Director of the Victorian Melanoma Service, Dr Victoria Mar, says the machine’s ability to create a 3D avatar to undertake full body mapping has the potential to revolutionise the detection of melanoma.

“Early detection of melanoma leads to better outcomes, and we hope to enhance this with improved imaging technology,” said Dr Mar.

The technology was introduced today as part of the Australian Centre of Excellence in Melanoma Imaging and Diagnosis (ACEMID), funded by the Australian Cancer Research Foundation (ACRF).

As well as helping to detect melanoma earlier and more accurately, the machine will support research into the condition, as its functions will allow researchers to investigate and track moles and skin spots over time.

Australia has the world’s highest rate of melanoma, with 1,700 Australians dying of the condition each year. No standardised diagnosis pathway exists, and treatment costs in Australia exceed AUD $1 billion per year.