Bindu, G; Santhosh John, Abraham; Anil, Lonappan; Vinu, Thomas; Aanandan,C K; Mathew, K T(International Journal of Cancer Research, 2006)
[+]
[-]
Abstract:
Despite its recognized value in detecting and characterizing breast disease, X-ray
mammography has important limitations that motivate the quest for alternatives to augment
the diagnostic tools that are currently available to the radiologist. The rationale for pursuing
electromagnetic methods are based on the significant dielectric contrast between normal
and cancerous breast tissues, when exposed to microwaves. The present study analyzes
two-dimensional microwave tomographic imaging on normal and malignant breast tissue
samples extracted by mastectomy, to assess the suitability of the technique for early
detection ofbreast cancer. The tissue samples are immersed in matching coupling medium
and are illuminated by 3 GHz signal. 2-D tomographic images ofthe breast tissue samples
are reconstructed from the collected scattered data using distorted Born iterative method.
Variations of dielectric permittivity in breast samples are distinguishable from the obtained
permittivity profiles, which is a clear indication of the presence of malignancy. Hence
microwave tomographic imaging is proposed as an alternate imaging modality for early
detection ofbreast cancer.