Yasumasa Monden

Measurement of the Electrical Bio-Impedance of Breast Tumors

A new impedance analytical system was developed, and measurements were performed over a frequency range of 0-200 kHz by the three-electrode method. The three electrodes consist of a coaxial needle electrode inserted into the tumor and a large reference electrode on the upper abdominal wall. The electrical bio-impedance was measured in 54 patients with breast tumors. The biological tissue can be regarded electrically as an equivalent consisting of extracellular resistance (Re), intracellular resistance (Ri), and electrical capacitance of the cell membrane (Cm). These three parameters were calculated from the measured values of electrical bio-impedance by the curve-fitting technique using a computer program. It was found that Re and Ri of breast cancers were significantly higher than those of benign tumors (p less than 0.01), and that Cm of breast cancers was significantly lower than that of benign tumors (p less than 0.01). Measurement of the electrical bio-impedance of breast tumors may have value in the differential diagnosis of breast lesions.

A Case of Epiploic Appendagitis of the Ascending Colon

右下腹部痛を主訴とする36歳の男性で, 急性虫垂炎の診断の下に開腹したところ, 虫垂には異常所見は認めず, 上行結腸腹膜垂が暗赤褐色を呈し, 一部壊死状で茎部は非常に細く, 捻転に基づく血行障害による腹膜垂炎と考えられる症例を経験した.本症の原因としては, 腹膜垂の捻転による血行障害が重視されており, 自験例も同様の原因によるものであった.しかし本邦報告例の中には, 血行障害が原因ではないと考えられる例も散見される.この点より腹膜垂炎には2つのタイプがあり, 血行障害型腹膜垂炎と非血行障害型腹膜垂炎に分類できる.われわれが経験した上行結腸腹膜垂炎の1例を報告するとともに, 本症の原因を中心に若干の文献的考察を行った.