BACKGROUND Receiving real-time information on tissue properties while performing biopsy procedures has the potential of improving biopsy accuracy. The study goal was to test the ability of a miniature flexible Radio-Frequency (RF) sensor (Dune Medical Devices), designed to be mounted on the surface of surgical tools, in measuring and mapping the various breast tissue types and abnormalities in terms of electrical properties. METHODS Between January and October 2012, 102 patients undergoing lumpectomy, open-biopsy or mastectomy, in 3 medical centers, were enrolled in this study. The device was applied to freshly excised specimens, with registration between device measurements and histology analysis. Based on histology, the dielectric properties of the various tissue types were derived. Additionally, the ability of the device to differentiate between malignant and non-malignant tissue was assessed. RESULTS A total of 4322 measurements from 106 specimens from 102 patients were analyzed. The dielectric properties of 10 tissue types in the low RF-frequency range were measured, showing distinct differences between the various types. Based on the dielectric properties, a score variable was derived, which showed a correlation of 90 % between the RF measurements and the tissue types. Differentiation ability between tissue types was characterized using ROC curve analysis, with AUC of 0.96, and sensitivity and specificity of 90 and 91 % respectively, for tissue feature sizes at or above 0.8 mm. CONCLUSIONS Using a radio-frequency near-field spectroscopy miniature flexible sensor the dielectric properties of multiple breast tissue types, both normal and abnormal, were evaluated. The results show promise in differentiating between various breast tissue types, and specifically for differentiation between cancer and normal tissues.

中文翻译：

---

通过微型射频近场光谱传感器在离体新鲜切除的标本中绘制乳腺组织类型。


背景技术在执行活检过程时接收关于组织特性的实时信息具有提高活检准确性的潜力。该研究的目标是测试微型柔性射频 (RF) 传感器（Dune Medical Devices）的能力，该传感器设计安装在手术工具的表面上，测量和绘制各种乳腺组织类型和异常情况的能力电气特性。方法 2012 年 1 月至 10 月期间，3 个医疗中心的 102 名接受肿瘤切除术、开放活检或乳房切除术的患者被纳入本研究。该装置应用于新切除的标本，并在装置测量和组织学分析之间进行记录。根据组织学，得出了各种组织类型的介电特性。此外，还评估了该装置区分恶性和非恶性组织的能力。结果 共分析了来自 102 名患者的 106 个样本的 4322 项测量结果。测量了低射频范围内 10 种组织类型的介电特性，显示出不同类型之间的明显差异。根据介电特性，得出了一个分数变量，该变量显示 RF 测量值与组织类型之间的相关性为 90%。使用 ROC 曲线分析来表征组织类型之间的区分能力，对于 0.8 mm 或以上的组织特征尺寸，AUC 为 0.96，敏感性和特异性分别为 90% 和 91%。结论 使用射频近场光谱微型柔性传感器评估了多种乳腺组织类型（正常和异常）的介电特性。 结果表明，在区分各种乳腺组织类型方面有希望，特别是在区分癌症和正常组织方面。