Electropotential evaluation as a new technique for diagnosing breast lesions.

A new approach, termed the Biofield test, may have the potential to augment the process of diagnosing breast cancer. This technique is based on the analysis of skin surface electrical potentials measured by an array of specially designed sensors which are placed on the breasts. Measurements are recorded noninvasively and then analyzed using pattern recognition algorithms to produce an immediate and objective assessment of breast tissue in vivo. Initial clinical trials suggests that the test can achieve a sensitivity of approximately 90% and a specificity of 40-50%, which indicates that the test might be useful for excluding cancer when it is, in fact, absent. Although research to date has focused on the differential diagnosis of suspicious breast lesions, future applications could include breast cancer screening, close surveillance and diagnosis of recurrent cancers in breasts previously treated with conservative therapy, and monitoring the effectiveness of breast cancer therapies. Improvements and new applications are expected to occur as additional research and validation in actual clinical settings is performed.