Tissue Characterization Using an Electrical Bioimpedance Spectroscopy-Based Multi-Electrode Probe to Screen for Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia

Abstract

The successful management of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) with proper screening and treatment methods could prevent cervical cancer progression. We propose a bioimpedance spectroscopic measurement device and a multi-electrode probe as an independent screening tool for CIN. To evaluate the performance of this screening method, we enrolled 123 patients, including 69 patients with suspected CIN and 54 control patients without cervical dysplasia who underwent a hysterectomy for benign disease (non-CIN). Following conization, the electrical properties of the excised cervical tissue were characterized using an electrical bioimpedance spectroscopy-based multi-electrode probe. Twenty-eight multifrequency voltages were collected through the two concentric array electrodes via a sensitivity-optimized measurement protocol based on an electrical energy concentration method. The electrical properties of the CIN and non-CIN groups were compared with the results of the pathology reports. Reconstructed resistivity tended to decrease in the CIN and non-CIN groups as frequency increased. Reconstructed resistivity from 625 Hz to 50 kHz differed significantly between the CIN and non-CIN groups (p < 0.001). Using 100 kHz as the reference, the difference between the CIN and non-CIN groups was significant. Based on the difference in reconstructed resistivity between 100 kHz and the other frequencies, this method had a sensitivity of 94.3%, a specificity of 84%, and an accuracy of 90% in CIN screening. The feasibility of noninvasive CIN screening was confirmed through the difference in the frequency spectra evaluated in the excised tissue using the electrical bioimpedance spectroscopy-based multi-electrode screening probe.

Bioelectrical Impedance Spectroscopy for Monitoring Mammalian Cells and Tissues under Different Frequency Domains: A Review

“…Recently, Oh et al conducted a study to examine the ability of a bioimpedance multielectrode probe to discriminate between tissue samples with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (n = 69) and those without (n = 54) using impedance spectroscopy over the range of 0.625−100 kHz. 135 by testing each tissue sample from patients three times, statistically significant differences in reconstructed resistivity values were found in the studied frequencies ranging from 0.625 to 50 kHz. The lower resistivity demarcated by the tumor cells was posited because of destruction of tissue structure by loss of the layer of flattened cells on the surface of the sample.…”

“…Recently, Oh et al conducted a study to examine the ability of a bioimpedance multielectrode probe to discriminate between tissue samples with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia ( n = 69) and those without ( n = 54) using impedance spectroscopy over the range of 0.625–100 kHz . Using a 17-membered array of spring-loaded, gold plated electrodes and by testing each tissue sample from patients three times, statistically significant differences in reconstructed resistivity values were found in the studied frequencies ranging from 0.625 to 50 kHz.…”

Real-Time Monitoring Using Multiplexed Multi-Electrode Bioelectrical Impedance Spectroscopy for the Stratification of Vascularized Composite Allografts: A Perspective on Predictive Analytics

“…Increasing the number of electrodes tends to enhance the spatial resolution of the map, although too many electrodes could result in a degraded signal [ 34 ]. This technique has great potential in monitoring biological events where the permittivity of the TUT is affected [ 35 ]. Consequently, BI has been widely developed and applied to provide superior outcomes in clinical situations that involve the accumulation, loss, or movement of liquid or air, such as in assessing lung capacity and function, the cardiovascular system, edema, and lymphedema [ 36 ].…”