Microwave Imaging of Breast Tumor Using Time-Domain UWB Circular-SAR Technique

Area of Science:

• Medical Imaging
• Radar Technology
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Accurate breast tumor detection is crucial for early diagnosis and effective treatment.
• Current imaging modalities have limitations in certain aspects of tumor visualization.
• Ultra-wideband (UWB) radar shows potential for non-ionizing, high-resolution imaging.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the competency of time-domain UWB-CSAR for breast tumor imaging.
• To develop and validate a sectional image reconstruction method for multilayered breast tissue.
• To assess the feasibility of UWB-CSAR as a diagnostic and monitoring tool.

Main Methods:

• Image reconstruction using a time-domain global back projection technique adapted for circular trajectories.
• Development of a sectional image reconstruction method to account for group velocity variations.
• Experimental validation using an advanced 3D-printed breast phantom emulating human tissue.

Main Results:

• UWB-CSAR successfully imaged a breast phantom with high fidelity.
• Reconstructed images were comparable to MRI, demonstrating the technique's accuracy.
• The sectional reconstruction method effectively compensated for tissue layer variations.

Conclusions:

• Time-domain UWB-CSAR is a competent method for breast tumor imaging.
• This radar technique shows significant potential for early breast cancer diagnosis.
• UWB-CSAR can serve as a valuable tool for monitoring treatment response during chemotherapy or radiotherapy.