Bioelectric Field Imaging in Diagnosing Melanoma and Other Skin Cancers in Patients With Skin Lesions

Overview

RATIONALE: New diagnostic procedures, such as bioelectric field imaging, may help find and diagnose melanoma and other skin cancers. It may also be a less invasive way to check for skin cancer. PURPOSE: This phase I trial is studying bioelectric field imaging in diagnosing melanoma and other skin cancers in patients with skin lesions.

Full Title of Study: “Development of an Electrical Diagnostic for Melanoma and Other Cutaneous Malignancies”

Study Type

  • Study Type: Interventional
  • Study Design
    • Primary Purpose: Diagnostic
  • Study Primary Completion Date: April 2007

Detailed Description

OBJECTIVES: – To determine if the hand-held Bioelectric Field Imager can be used to measure the electric field in skin of various body surfaces, including face, neck, shoulders, arms, hands, chest, back, legs, and feet, during the course of examination and treatment of patients with suspected malignant skin lesions. – To determine if there is a significant difference between the lateral electric field strength near benign and malignant skin lesions in the same individual. OUTLINE: Patients undergo scanning of their skin lesions and nearby healthy skin using the Bioelectric Field Imager (BFI). The lesions are then biopsied for histological diagnosis. Histological data from the biopsy is correlated with the electric field data from the BFI.

Interventions

  • Procedure: bioelectric field imaging
  • Procedure: biopsy
  • Procedure: histopathologic examination

Clinical Trial Outcome Measures

Primary Measures

  • Use of Bioelectric Field Imager (BFI) in measuring the electric field in skin of various body surfaces
  • Use of BFI in detecting significant electric field differences between malignant and benign skin lesions

Participating in This Clinical Trial

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

  • Suspected malignant skin lesion – Seeking treatment for skin lesion at the VA Medical Center PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: – Not pregnant – No acute illness, including upper respiratory tract infection or flu that could result in fever – No trauma to the skin lesion area – No prisoners PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: – See Disease Characteristics

Gender Eligibility: All

Minimum Age: 18 Years

Maximum Age: N/A

Are Healthy Volunteers Accepted: No

Investigator Details

  • Lead Sponsor
    • Eastern Virginia Medical School
  • Collaborator
    • National Cancer Institute (NCI)
  • Overall Official(s)
    • Antoinette F. Hood, MD, Principal Investigator, Eastern Virginia Medical School

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