Electrical impedance scanning in breast tumor imaging: correlation with the growth pattern of lesion.

Background: This study researched the electric impedance properties of breast tissue and demonstrated the different characteristic of electrical impedance scanning (EIS) images.

Methods: The impedance character of 40 malignant tumors, 34 benign tumors and some normal breast tissue from 69 patients undergoing breast surgery was examined by EIS in vivo measurement and mammography screening, with a series of frequencies set between 100 Hz - 100 kHz in the ex vivo spectroscopy measurement.

Results: Of the 39 patients with 40 malignant tumors, 24 showed bright spots, 11 showed dark areas in EIS and 5 showed no specific image.