Retrospective evaluation of the performance of the electrical impedance spectroscopy system Nevisense in detecting keratinocyte cancers

Electrical Impedance Dermography: Background, Current State, and Emerging Clinical Opportunities

Electrical impedance dermography (EID), based on electrical impedance spectroscopy, is a specific technique for the evaluation of skin disorders that relies upon the application and measurement of painless, alternating electrical current. EID assesses pathological changes to the normal composition and architecture of the skin that influence the flow of electrical current, including changes associated with inflammation, keratinocyte and melanocyte carcinogenesis, and scarring. Assessing the electrical properties of the skin across a range of frequencies and in multiple directions of current flow can provide diagnostic information to aid in the identification of pathologic skin conditions. EID holds the promise of serving as a diagnostic biomarker and potential to be used in skin cancer detection and staging. EID may also be useful as a biomarker in monitoring effectiveness of treatment in individual patients and in therapeutic research. This review highlights ongoing efforts to improve mechanistic understanding of skin electrical changes, study of EID in a variety of clinical contexts, and further refine the technology to find greater clinical use in dermatology and dermatologic research.

Diagnostics Using Non-Invasive Technologies in Dermatological Oncology

The growing incidence of skin cancer, with its associated mortality and morbidity, has in recent years led to the developing of new non-invasive technologies, which allow an earlier and more accurate diagnosis. Some of these, such as digital photography, 2D and 3D total-body photography and dermoscopy are now widely used and others, such as reflectance confocal microscopy and optical coherence tomography, are limited to a few academic and referral skin cancer centers because of their cost or the long training period required. Health care professionals involved in the treatment of patients with skin cancer need to know the implications and benefits of new non-invasive technologies for dermatological oncology. In this article we review the characteristics and usability of the main diagnostic imaging methods available today.