Abstract
In this work, we propose a near-field microwave sensing modality that uses a single probe combined with a classification algorithm to help in detecting the presence of tumors in the human female breast. The concept employs a near-field resonant probe with an ultra-narrow frequency response. The resonant probe is highly sensitive to the changes in the electromagnetic properties of the breast tissues such that the presence of the tumor is gauged by determining the changes in the magnitude and phase response of the sensor’s reflection coefficient. A key feature of our proposed detection concept is the simultaneous sensing of tissue property changes to the two female breasts since the right and left healthy breasts are morphologically and materially identical. Once the probe response is recorded for both breasts, the Principle Component Analysis (PCA) method is employed to emphasize the difference in the probe responses. For validation of the concept, tumors embedded in a realistic breast phantoms were simulated. To provide additional confidence in the detection modality introduced here, experimental results of three different sizes of metallic spheres, mimicking tumors, inserted inside chicken and beef meat were detected using an electrically-small probe operating at 200 MHz. The results obtained from the numerical tests and experiments strongly suggest that the detection modality presented here might lead to an inexpensive and portable early and regular screening for breast tumor.
Highlights
Breast cancer is one of the most common types of cancer among women and it is the second leading cause of death from cancer in women worldwide
Research performed over the past 25 years confirms that malignant breast cancer tumors show sharp variation in their dielectric properties where the value of the permittivity and conductivity of the tumor tissues are higher than normal tissues[8,9,10,11,12]
We presented an alternative microwave modality for breast tumor detection using a single probe for each of the two human female breasts
Summary
Breast cancer is one of the most common types of cancer among women and it is the second leading cause of death from cancer in women worldwide. X-ray mammography, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and ultrasound scanning are the most common clinical imaging modalities currently used for diagnosis and detection of breast cancer[2]. MRI is highly effective for imaging small abnormalities compared with mammography and ultrasound, and can be used effectively for women with dense breasts. The core principle behind all MI modalities is the contrast in the dielectric properties between normal and malignant www.nature.com/scientificreports/. The significant differentiation in the dielectric properties of normal and malignant breast tissues can be used as the underlying principle for detection using electromagnetic waves. In the most comprehensive study of normal, benign and malignant breast tissue by Lazebnik et al.[9,13], exhaustive measurements were performed to conclude that due to the complex network of glandular www.nature.com/scientificreports/ Figure 6. A schematic showing the experimental procedures. (a) Horizontal scan. (b) Vertical scan
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
