UV Irradiation of Nevi: Impact on Performance of Electrical Impedance Spectroscopy and a Convolution Neural Network

INTRODUCTION: UV irradiation of nevi induces transient melanocytic activation with dermoscopic and histological changes. OBJECTIVES: We investigated whether UV irradiation of nevi may influence electrical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) or convolution neural networks (CNN). METHODS: Prospective, controlled trial in 50 patients undergoing phototherapy (selective UV phototherapy (SUP), UVA1, SUP/UVA1, or PUVA). EIS (Nevisense, SciBase AB) and CNN scores (Moleanalyzer-Pro, FotoFinder Systems) of nevi were assessed before (V1) and after UV irradiation (V2). One nevus (nevus(irr)) was exposed to UV light, another UV-shielded (nevus(non)-(irr)). RESULTS: There were no significant differences in EIS scores of nevus(irr) before (2.99 [2.51–3.47]) and after irradiation (3.32 [2.86–3.78]; P = 0.163), which was on average 13.28 (range 4–47) days later. Similarly, UV-shielded nevus(non)-(irr) did not show significant changes of EIS scores (V1: 2.65 [2.19–3.11]), V2: 2.92 [2.50–3.34]; P = 0.094). Subgroup analysis by irradiation revealed a significant increase of EIS scores of nevus(irr) (V1: 2.69 [2.21–3.16], V2: 3.23 [2.72–3.73]; P = 0.044) and nevus(non)-(irr) (V1: 2.57 [2.07–3.07], V2: 3.03 [2.48–3.57]; P = 0.033) for patients receiving SUP. In contrast, CNN scores of nevus(irr) (P = 0.995) and nevus(non)-(irr) (P = 0.352) showed no significant differences before and after phototherapy. CONCLUSIONS: For the tested EIS system increased EIS scores were found in nevi exposed to SUP. In contrast, CNN results were more robust against UV exposure.