Device Finds Breast Lesions by Measuring Electropotentials

LONDON--A multicenter clinical study has shown that a new noninvasive diagnostic modality, which measures electropotentials at the skin surface in the region of a suspicious breast lesion, helps physicians discriminate benign lesions from breast cancer.

The device, developed by Biofield Corp., Atlanta, is similar to an electrocardiogram in that measurements from the skin surface are made with noninvasive sensors (figure). Data suggest that rapidly proliferating cells, typical of cancer, lose their normal charge or polarity, resulting in depolarization, which can be measured by the device’s sensors.

Researchers at eight European medical centers compared biopsy results with Biofield test results in 661 women who underwent biopsy of a suspicious breast lesion (Lancet 351:359-363, 1998). The test provided highly significant predictive information only in women with palpable lesions. Specificity was 55% with 90% sensitivity for women with palpable lesions using an index based on electro-potential differences and age.

"The lack of discrimination for nonpalpable lesions may be related to difficulty with accurate sensor placement . . . based on localization from mammograms," said Jack Cuzick, PhD, lead author of the study and head of the Prevention and Control Section of the Imperial Cancer Research Fund (ICRF).

Thus, the researchers concluded that the most promising use for the new technique may be in women with lumps or inconclusive nodularity detected on physical exam. "The prevalence of cancer in such women is low, especially when they are young, and a simple test that could reliably rule out malignant disease would help keep the number of diagnostic tests done on these women to a minimum," Dr. Cuzick said.

As a example, in a referral population with a 5% prevalence of cancer, the Biofield test, operating with 90% sensitivity, would have a negative predictive value of 99.1%, and would reduce the number of women requiring additional tests by more than half.

The Biofield Diagnostic System will require pre-market approval (PMA) from the FDA. It is scheduled to be available in Europe by late 1998.