Machine Learning Applications in the Evaluation and Management of Psoriasis: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Background: Machine learning (ML), a subset of artificial intelligence (AI) that aims to teach machines to automatically learn tasks by inferring patterns from data, holds significant promise to aid psoriasis care. Applications include evaluation of skin images for screening and diagnosis as well as clinical management including treatment and complication prediction. Objective: To summarize literature on ML applications to psoriasis evaluation and management and to discuss challenges and opportunities for future advances. Methods: We searched MEDLINE, Google Scholar, ACM Digital Library, and IEEE Xplore for peer-reviewed publications published in English through December 1, 2019. Our search queries identified publications with any of the 10 computing-related keywords and “psoriasis” in the title and/or abstract. Results: Thirty-three studies were identified. Articles were organized by topic and synthesized as evaluation- or management-focused articles covering 5 content categories: (A) Evaluation using skin images: (1) identification and differential diagnosis of psoriasis lesions, (2) lesion segmentation, and (3) lesion severity and area scoring; (B) clinical management: (1) prediction of complications and (2) treatment. Conclusion: Machine learning has significant potential to aid psoriasis evaluation and management. Current topics popular in ML research on psoriasis are the evaluation of medical images, prediction of complications, and treatment discovery. For patients to derive the greatest benefit from ML advancements, it is helpful for dermatologists to have an understanding of ML and how it can effectively aid their assessments and decision-making.