Highly Accurate Debye Models for Normal and Malignant Breast Tissue Dielectric Properties at Microwave Frequencies

Abstract

The finite difference time domain (FDTD) method is widely used as a computational tool for development, validation, and optimization of emerging microwave breast cancer detection and treatment techniques. When expressed in terms of Debye parameters, dispersive breast tissue dielectric properties can be efficiently incorporated into FDTD codes. Previously, we experimentally characterized the dielectric properties of a large number of excised normal and malignant breast tissue samples from 0.5 to 20 GHz. We subdivided the large database of normal tissue data into three groups based on the percent adipose tissue present in a particular sample. In addition, we formed a group of all cancer samples that contained at least 30% malignant tissue. We summarized the data using one-pole Cole-Cole models that were rigorously fit to the median dielectric properties of the three normal tissue groups and one malignant tissue group. In this letter, we present computationally simpler one- and two-pole Debye models that retain the high accuracy of the Cole-Cole models. Model parameters are derived for two sets of frequency ranges: the entire measurement frequency range from 0.5 to 20 GHz, and the 3.1-10.6 GHz FCC band allocated for ultrawideband medical applications. The proposed Debye models provide a means for creating computationally efficient FDTD breast models with realistic wideband dielectric properties derived from the largest and most comprehensive experimental study conducted to date on human breast tissue.