Non-invasive and microinvasive electrical impedance spectra of skin cancer – a comparison between two techniques

  1. Peter Åberg1,
  2. Paul Geladi2,
  3. Ingrid Nicander3,
  4. Johan Hansson4,
  5. Ulf Holmgren5,
  6. Stig Ollmar1

Article first published online: 12 OCT 2005

DOI: 10.1111/j.0909-725X.2005.00125.x

Issue

Skin Research and Technology

Skin Research and Technology

Volume 11, Issue 4, pages 281–286, November 2005

Additional Information

How to Cite

Åberg, P., Geladi, P., Nicander, I., Hansson, J., Holmgren, U. and Ollmar, S. (2005), Non-invasive and microinvasive electrical impedance spectra of skin cancer – a comparison between two techniques. Skin Research and Technology, 11: 281–286. doi: 10.1111/j.0909-725X.2005.00125.x

Author Information

  1. 1

    Division of Medical Engineering, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Sweden,

  2. 2

    Unit of Biomass Technology and Chemistry, SLU Röbäcksdalen, Umeå, Sweden,

  3. 3

    Department of Dermatology, Karolinska University Hospital, Huddinge, Sweden,

  4. 4

    Department of Oncology, Radiumhemmet, Karolinska University Hospital Solna, Stockholm, Sweden

  5. 5

    Department of Surgery, Läkarmottagningen Hötorget, Stockholm, Sweden

*Address: Peter Åberg NOVUM Research Park, Div. Med. Eng. SE-141 86 Huddinge Sweden Tel: +46-8-585 83760 Fax: +46-8-585 87779 e-mail:peter.aberg@labmed.ki.se

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 12 OCT 2005
  2. Article first published online: 12 OCT 2005
  3. Accepted for publication 13 November 2004

SEARCH

SEARCH BY CITATION

ARTICLE TOOLS

View Full Article (HTML) Get PDF (130K)

Keywords:

  • basal cell carcinoma;
  • bio-electrical impedance;
  • malignant melanoma;
  • microinvasive;
  • sensitivity and specificity

Background/purpose: Bio-electrical impedance spectra of skin cancer and other lesions can be assessed using both regular non-invasive probes and a novel type of microinvasive electrode system with a surface furnished with tiny spikes that penetrate stratum corneum. The aim of the study was to compare the accuracy of detection for various types of skin cancer using impedance spectra measured with these two different electrode systems in an objective way without optimising the power of discrimination.

Methods: Impedance spectra of 99 benign nevi, 28 basal cell carcinomas (BCC), and 13 malignant melanomas (MM) were measured using the two electrode systems. Classification of the lesions was made using Fisher's linear discriminant, and the sensitivities and specificities of the techniques were estimated using cross-validation.

Results: The best separation between nevi and BCC was achieved using the regular non-invasive probe (96% sensitivity and 86% specificity), whereas the best separation between nevi and MM was achieved using the microinvasive electrodes (92% sensitivity and 80% specificity).

Conclusions: Our results indicate that the choice of electrode system is application dependent.

View Full Article (HTML) Get PDF (130K)