Combined diagnostics of lung cancer using exhaled breath analsysis and sputum cytology

In this article we summarize our own experience of lung cancer diagnostics using exhaled breath analysis with a non-selective method using metal oxide chemoresistor gas sensors with cross-sensitivity combined with the sputum cytology. Volatile organic compounds of exhaled breath change the conductivity of the sensor, the resulting pulse is displayed as a peak on the graph, the area of which is used as test results. The combination of two diagnostic techniques in 204 participants demonstrated the possibility of non-invasively detecting the disease at an early stage. The sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of the breath analysis was 91.2%, 100% and 93.4%, respectively. The combination of the breath test and the sputum cytology compared to the breath test alone showed statistically significant (p = 0.03) increase in sensitivity to 96.8% (95% CI: 80.9% -99%) with acceptable decrease in specificity to 93.4% (95% CI: 88% -96%). The convenience of analysis and realtime measurements show some promise for the early detection.