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Updated: Aug 13, 2025
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Terahertz Imaging and Characterization Protocol for Freshly Excised Breast Cancer Tumors
Published on: April 5, 2020
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High-Frequency (30 MHz-6 GHz) Breast Tissue Characterization Stabilized by Suction Force for Intraoperative Tumor
Hadi Mokhtari Dowlatabad1, Amir Mamdouh1, Narges Yousefpour1
1Nano Bioelectronics Devices Lab, Cancer Electronics Research Group, School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Tehran, Tehran 14399-57131, Iran.
Diagnostics (Basel, Switzerland)
|January 21, 2023
Summary
A new gigahertz (GHz) antenna sensor effectively detects cancerous breast lesions by analyzing dielectric properties. This technology shows high accuracy in distinguishing malignant tumors from normal tissue, paving the way for non-invasive scanning.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Electromagnetics
- Cancer Diagnostics
Background:
- Cancerous breast lesions exhibit higher water content than normal tissue.
- Altered dielectric properties of tumors can be detected using GHz electromagnetic stimulation.
- Non-invasive methods for early cancer detection are crucial for improved patient outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and evaluate a gigahertz (GHz) range antenna probe for sensing cancerous breast lesions.
- To utilize changes in dielectric properties for distinguishing malignant tumors.
- To assess the potential of this system as an in vivo non-invasive tumor margin scanner.
Main Methods:
- A coaxial probe antenna sensor operating in the GHz range was designed and connected to a network analyzer.
- The sensor was applied to a scanning platform with a suction tube for in vivo and in vitro sample analysis.
- Principal Component Analysis (PCA) of the S11 parameter (reflection coefficient) was used to differentiate between normal and cancerous tissue.
- Histopathological analysis served as the gold standard for calibration and validation.
Main Results:
- Significantly higher S11 values were observed in cancerous breast lesions within the 5 to 6 GHz frequency range.
- The system achieved an 82% positive predictive value (PPV), 100% negative predictive value (NPV), and 86% accuracy in distinguishing tumor specimens.
- The S11 parameter effectively correlated with the water content differences between normal and malignant cells.
Conclusions:
- The GHz antenna probe demonstrates significant potential for accurately identifying cancerous breast lesions based on their dielectric properties.
- The developed method shows high diagnostic performance, comparable to histopathology.
- Further investigation is warranted to establish this technology as a reliable in vivo non-invasive tumor margin scanner.
