Preliminary data analysis of electrical impedance scanning of breasts in normal women

    LIU Ruiª²Gang, FU Feng, SHI Xueª²Tao, YOU Fuª²Sheng, JI Zhenª²Yu, DONG Xiuª²Zhen

    Department of Medical Electronic Engineering, School of Biomedical Engineering, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi¡¯an 710033, China

    ¡¾Abstract¡¿ AIM: To study the characteristics of the data obtained by electrical impedance scanning of breasts in normal women for future images making and abnormal impedance area setting. METHODS: The data of 191 normal volunteers were calculated to get the real part, imaginary part, amplitude and phase of electrical impedance, respectively. The differences between different subjects were statistically analyzed and the similarities between left and right breasts of the same subject were compared. The correlations between the above electrical impedance parameters and the age, stature, weight of different subjects were observed and the varying rules for different areas of the same subject or different electrodes in the same area were analyzed. RESULTS: Electrical impedance parameters were quite different between different subjects, but quite similar between the left and right breasts of the same subject. These parameters were not correlated with the age, stature, and weight of the subjects. The parameters were quite consistent in all the areas except for that of the nipple, which increased significantly in the nipple areas. CONCLUSION: Electrical impedance parameters of different subjects can not be directly used to judge the abnormal variation of impedance. In the same subject, they are almost identified for both the left and right breasts, which can be used to identify the abnormal variation. The electrical impedance scanning can be used in detecting the variation of impedance. ......