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Analysis of an electrical impedance spectroscopy system in short‐term digital dermoscopy imaging of melanocytic lesions
Author(s) -
Rocha L.,
Menzies S.W.,
Lo S.,
Avramidis M.,
Khoury R.,
Jackett L.,
Guitera P.
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
british journal of dermatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.304
H-Index - 179
eISSN - 1365-2133
pISSN - 0007-0963
DOI - 10.1111/bjd.15595
Subject(s) - term (time) , medicine , dermatology , spectroscopy , pathology , physics , quantum mechanics
Summary Background Electrical impedance spectroscopy ( EIS ) is a noninvasive diagnostic technique that measures tissue impedance. Objectives To evaluate the effect of adding an EIS measurement at baseline to suspicious melanocytic lesions undergoing routine short‐term sequential digital dermoscopy imaging ( SDDI ). Methods Patients presented with suspicious melanocytic lesions that were eligible for short‐term SDDI (with no clear feature of melanoma on dermoscopy). EIS measurement was performed at the first visit following dermoscopic photography. Normally, an EIS score of ≥ 4 is considered positive; however, this protocol investigated a higher cut‐off in combination with SDDI . When the EIS score was ≥ 7 the lesion was excised immediately owing to the high risk of melanoma. Lesions with a score < 7 were monitored with standard SDDI over a 3‐month period. Results From a total of 160 lesions analysed, 128 of 154 benign lesions received an EIS score of 0–6, giving a specificity of the EIS method for the diagnosis of melanoma of 83·1% [95% confidence interval ( CI ) 76·3–88·7]. Five of the six melanomas found in this study had an EIS score ≥ 7, with a sensitivity for melanoma diagnosis of 83·3% (95% CI 35·9–99·6). When EIS 0–6 lesions were subsequently followed up with SDDI , one additional melanoma was detected (EIS = 6) giving a sensitivity for the diagnosis of melanoma overall of 100% (95% CI 54·1–100; six of six malignant melanomas excised) and a specificity of 69·5% (95% CI 61·5–76·6; 107 of 154 benign lesions not excised). Conclusions If utilizing a protocol where an EIS score ≤ 3 requires no SDDI and ≥ 7 requires immediate excision, it reduced the need for SDDI by 46·9% ( n = 75/160; 95% CI 39·0–54·9).