In a study published in biosensorthe researchers introduced non-ionization. A non-invasive, high-speed imaging microwave-based system for early detection of breast cancer. The proposed method shows promising tumor detection capabilities even when there are negligible differences between healthy and tumor tissues.
study: A Noninvasive Microwave-Based Imaging System for Early Detection of Breast TumorsImage Credit: Guschenkova/Shutterstock.com
breast cancer overview
Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in women. It is a major threat to women’s health worldwide, with one million women diagnosed each year.
There has been a significant increase in research efforts for technologies aimed at early detection of breast cancer.
Current Breast Cancer Detection Technologies and Their Limitations
X-ray mammography is currently the most commonly used medical imaging technique for breast cancer detection and screening. However, it has some drawbacks, including painful and uncomfortable breast compressions, numerous false-positive tests, and the use of ionizing radiation.
Other techniques also have significant drawbacks. For example, the high cost of magnetic resonance imaging limits its use for early detection, and the patient’s need to consume radioactive material for optimal imaging with positron emission tomography.
Microwave imaging of breast cancer
These shortcomings have prompted researchers to develop new non-invasive, non-ionizing, and economically viable breast cancer detection techniques. Among these techniques, microwave imaging (MWI) has emerged as a viable early breast cancer screening method.
The MWI method is based on the detection of microwave-frequency electromagnetic waves that are scattered and absorbed as they pass through various breast tissues, focusing on the striking differences between healthy and cancerous tissue. increase.
The MWI technique also offers adequate image depth and spatial resolution for tumor detection, potential for early diagnosis and detection of dense breast tumors, relatively low cost, and reduced processing and imaging times. increase.
Significance of electromagnetic waves in noninvasive detection technology
Microwave electromagnetic wave propagation covers the most relevant processes in aquatic and biological systems, enabling the detection, characterization and monitoring of various events.
The penetration depth of microwave radiation into tissue ranging from hundreds of microns to several centimeters makes these methods viable for a variety of biomedical applications.
In addition, the non-invasive nature, non-ionizing capabilities, and dependence of microwave propagation on tissue permeability make microwave methods ideal for non-invasive medical imaging.
Using microwave-based systems to detect tumors in breast phantoms
In this study, researchers developed a microwave medical imaging system for tumor screening and detection. The imaging system includes 16 antennas controlled by a switching network consisting of 5 radio-frequency switches, a feeding and control subsystem, and a computer that automates the data acquisition and imaging operations.
The entire technique is designed to find and localize tumor phantoms that resemble breast cancer cells. Breast tumor tissue was replicated using an appropriate combination of water and TRITON X-100, a synthetic often used in these experiments.
The designed breast phantom mimics tumor detection in high-density breast by matching the electromagnetic scattering and absorption properties of real tissue within the breast to a specific density.
Calibration tests with basic and metal cylinders were performed to assess the correct operation of the system and fine-tune the algorithms.
The detection limit of the system was evaluated using various tumor phantoms with lower dielectric contrast than mammary tissue to emulate the problem of high-density breast cancer detection.
Key Findings of Research
The collected data and images demonstrate the system’s ability to detect and localize a wide variety of tumor phantoms, including those as small as 1 mL, even with low permittivity contrast and the presence of multiple tumors. is showing.
By utilizing highly directional antennas and enhanced medical imaging algorithms (IDAS), the system was able to successfully identify all tumor phantoms.
A small error was detected in the IDAS image. This may be due to a flaw in the border removal algorithm, or the breast phantom may not be precisely centered in the measurement region. However, it does not affect the ability of the proposed system to detect tumors.
Future development of breast cancer imaging
Accuracy can be improved by increasing the number of receive antennas active simultaneously on each pulse. Still, it increases system cost, complexity, and processing time.
Spatial location of the tumor can be improved with the help of additional information provided by additional antennas. This also helps improve the accuracy of tumor detection and localization.
reference
Blanco-Angulo, C., Martínez-Lozano, A., Gutiérrez Mazón, R., Juan, CG, García Martínez, H., Arias-Rodríguez, J., Sabater-Navarro, JM, & Ávila Navarro, E. (2022) non – Invasive microwave-based imaging system for early detection of breast tumors. biosensorhttps://www.mdpi.com/2079-6374/12/9/752
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