Can iridology detect susceptibility to cancer? A prospective case-controlled study.
OBJECTIVE
This prospective case-control study aimed to investigate the value of iridology as a diagnostic tool in detecting some common cancers.


METHODS
One hundred ten (110) subjects were enrolled in the study: 68 subjects had histologically proven cancers of the breast, ovary, uterus, prostate, or colorectum, and 42 were control subjects.


METHODS
All subjects were examined by an experienced practitioner of iridology, who was unaware of their gender or medical details. He was allowed to suggest up to five diagnoses for each subject and his results were then compared with each subject's medical diagnosis to determine the accuracy of iridology in detecting malignancy.


RESULTS
Iridology identified the correct diagnosis in only 3 cases (sensitivity, 0.04).


CONCLUSIONS
Iridology was of no value in diagnosing the cancers investigated in this study.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Justus-Liebig-University of Giessen, Germany. karsten.muenstedt@gyn.med.uni-giessen.de
Karsten
K
Münstedt
Samer
S
El-Safadi
Friedel
F
Brück
Marek
M
Zygmunt
Andreas
A
Hackethal
Hans-Rudolf
HR
Tinneberg
D016022:Case-Control Studies; D000529:Complementary Therapies / Q000592:standards*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D003941:Diagnostic Techniques, Ophthalmological / Q000592:standards*; D004198:Disease Susceptibility / Q000175:diagnosis; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D007498:Iris / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D011446:Prospective Studies