title: Application of an electronic nose in the diagnosis of head and neck cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Electronic nose (E-nose) technology has various applications such as the monitoring of air quality and the detection of explosive and chemical agents. We studied the diagnostic accuracy of volatile organic compounds (VOC) pattern analysis in exhaled breath by means of an E-nose in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC).
  
  
  METHODS
  Cohort study. Exhaled breath samples from patients with HNSCC were analyzed by using an E-Nose.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-six patients diagnosed with HNSCC exhaled into a 5-litre Tedlar bag. The control group consisted of 23 patients visiting the outpatient clinic for other (benign) conditions. Air samples were analyzed using an E-nose.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Logistic regression showed a significant difference (P < 0.05) in VOC resistance patterns between patients diagnosed with HNSCC and the control group, with a sensitivity of 90% and a corresponding specificity of 80%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  E-nose application holds a promising potential for application in the diagnosis of HNSCC due to its rapid, simple, and noninvasive nature.
  
  
  METHODS
  3b.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Maastricht University Medical Centre, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Nicoline
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Leunis
authors.forename: Marie-Louise
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Boumans
authors.forename: Bernd
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kremer
authors.forename: Sinh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Din
authors.forename: Ellen
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Stobberingh
authors.forename: Alfons G H
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Kessels
authors.forename: Kenneth W
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Kross
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001944:Breath Tests / Q000379:methods; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000175:diagnosis*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015331:Cohort Studies; D062609:Electronic Nose / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D045853:Exhalation; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012372:ROC Curve; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D000077195:Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck; D062606:Tertiary Care Centers; D055549:Volatile Organic Compounds / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D055549:Volatile Organic Compounds
keywords: Electronic nose; head and neck cancer; volatile organic compounds