Two-dimensional FDTD analysis of a pulsed microwave confocal system for breast cancer detection: fixed-focus and antenna-array sensors

• Published in: IEEE transactions on biomedical engineering Vol. 45; no. 12; pp. 1470 - 1479
• Main Authors: Hagness, S.C., Taflove, A., Bridges, J.E.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY IEEE 01.12.1998; Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
• Subjects: Antenna arrays; Biological and medical sciences; Breast - physiology; Breast cancer; Breast neoplasms; Breast Neoplasms - diagnosis; Breast Neoplasms - physiopathology; Breast tissue; Cancer detection; Computer Simulation; Dielectrics; Electromagnetic Phenomena; Electromagnetism; Electrophysiology; Female; Finite difference method; Finite difference methods; Gynecology. Andrology. Obstetrics; Humans; Mammary gland diseases; Medical sciences; Microscopy, Confocal; Microwave antennas; Microwave sensors; Microwaves; Oncology; Physiological models; Sensor systems; Sensors; Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted; Time domain analysis; Tissue; Tumors; Human; Microwave device; Electrical properties; Malignant tumor; Physical properties; Mammary gland diseases; Numerical analysis; Time domain method; Focusing; Female; Diagnosis; Mammary gland; Technique; Impulse; Finite difference method
• ISSN: 0018-9294; 1558-2531
• DOI: 10.1109/10.730440

A novel focused active microwave system is investigated for detecting tumors in the breast. In contrast to X-ray and ultrasound modalities, the method reviewed here exploits the breast-tissue physical properties unique to the microwave spectrum, namely, the translucent nature of normal breast tissues and the high dielectric contrast between malignant tumors and surrounding lesion-free normal breast tissues. The system uses a pulsed confocal technique and time-gating to enhance the detection of tumors while suppressing the effects of tissue heterogeneity and absorption. Using published data for the dielectric properties of normal breast tissues and malignant tumors, the authors have conducted a two-dimensional (2-D) finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) computational electromagnetics analysis of the system. The FDTD simulations showed that tumors as small as 2 mm in diameter could be robustly detected in the presence of the background clutter generated by the heterogeneity of the surrounding normal tissue. Lateral spatial resolution of the tumor location was found to be about 0.5 cm.