Breast cancer screening by impedance measurements.

More efficient screening for breast cancer can lead to a reduction in the need for radical surgery and improved survival rates. Modern technology, particularly electronics and computerized instrumentation, makes such improvement feasible. We have developed an instrument for screening for breast cancer based on measuring the dielectric properties of tissues. An image of the electric properties of the breast is presented on a monitoring screen, using 512 'pixels', from which it is possible to distinguish pathological tissue. The image can be recalled on the monitor at will. The test can be performed by paramedical personnel. In the present study 6000 patients were tested with this instrument; 745 of these have undergone biopsy and these had been tested with all available instrumentation. A number of cases were found in which only this instrument detected a pathology which proved malignant. Instruments of such a type could become an additional part of breast cancer clinics.