Visualization of the Skin Electrodynamic Landscape: Some Phenomenological Features in Norm and Oncopathology

Abstract

we’ve developed a new technology of functional imaging - Electrodynamic Introscopy (EI), which is based on the high-resolution (≤1mm) scanning of an area (32×64mm) of interest with current generators at kHz and MHz band. The obtained multiparameter image chains are processed in real time with the aid of spectral, statistic and original methods of analyses. Thus, EI enables in vivo, noninvasive/nonionizing high-quality visualization&monitoring of the Skin Electrical Landscape (SEL) in electrobioimpedance/potential parameters at tissue, cellular and subcellular levels in norm and pathology.

The focus of presented study was comparative investigation of: initial SEL microenvironmental and other microregional dynamics in such model objects as cutaneous melanoma and nevi, and induced SEL features in response to some mild test influences like, e.g. non-thermal mm-EMF, MF and transient hypoxia. No abnormal SEL behavior has been registered in healthy subjects and in most of those with nevi. Noticeable EMF/MF-induced SEL dynamics has been registered in all melanomas and in 1̃0% of nevi. In response to hypoxic test, distinct SEL local changes appeared one by one around the pigmented zones, making thus visible the tumors’ true microenvironment. The hypoxic test also revealed prospective metastasis, i.e. remote areas of supposedly chronic or transient hypoxia with characteristic relaxation times. Coherent patterns of abnormal averaged summary intracellular electropotentials were detected. It was also possible to trace phase differences between inter- and intra-cellular responses to the tests. We conclude that the EI technology may be used both: for earlier tumor&metastasis diagnosis and (as an effective biofeedback) for targeted therapy.