Virtual bladder biopsy using bio-impedance spectroscopy at 62.500 Hz–1.024 MHz

The electrical impedance of the human urinary bladder was measured using a frequency range (62.500 Hz–1.024 MHz in 58 frequencies) electrical impedance spectroscopy system. In this study, a total of 51 points from 18 patients were studied in terms of their biopsy reports matching to the electrical impedance measurements (in vivo). These impedance data were evaluated in both malignant and benign groups, and revealed a significant difference between these two groups especially at lower frequencies (P < 0.0001 at lower frequencies). In fact, the impedivity of malignant bladder tissue was significantly higher than the impedivity of benign tissue. These results of the human bladder tissue in benign and malignant areas are different with the results obtained from the oesophagus and the cervical tissues. Finally, the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve for these impedance measurements indicated that this technique could provide diagnostic information (individual classification is possible). Therefore, this technique, especially at lower frequencies can be a virtual bladder biopsy technique for evaluation of the bladder pathology.