RESUMO
A new postprocessing algorithm was developed for the diagnosis of breast cancer using electrical impedance scanning. This algorithm automatically recognizes bright focal spots in the conductivity map of the breast. Moreover, this algorithm discriminates between malignant and benign/normal tissues using two main predictors: phase at 5 kHz and crossover frequency, the frequency at which the imaginary part of the admittance is at its maximum. The thresholds for these predictors were adjusted using a learning group consisting of 83 carcinomas and 378 benign cases. In addition, the algorithm was verified on an independent test group including 87 carcinomas, 153 benign cases and 356 asymptomatic cases. Biopsy was used as gold standard for determining pathology in the symptomatic cases. A sensitivity of 84% and a specificity of 52% were obtained for the test group.