Multi-physics modeling to study the influence of tissue compression and cold stress on enhancing breast tumor detection using microwave radiometry.

The influence of tissue compression and external thermal modulation on passive detection of breast tumors using medical microwave radiometry was investigated using multi-physics numerical modeling. A three-dimensional numerical model of the pendant breast with 10 and 6 mm diameter tumors at varying depths (15 mm, 30 mm) was analyzed at thermodynamic equilibrium using a circular waveguide as the receive antenna. The contrast in the brightness temperature, ΔT , between the unhealthy and healthy breasts was found to be significantly more for breast compression alone, compared to thermal modulation of the tissue surface, irrespective of tissue composition, tumor size, and depth.

Breast tissue phantoms to assist compression study for cancer detection using microwave radiometry.

Microwave radiometry is a passive imaging modality proposed for breast cancer detection without the need for ionizing radiation. Detection of breast tumor using radiometry is challenging as the intensity of thermal radiation received by the antenna is influenced by tumor stage, location, physiological conditions and the imaging setup. The controllable parameters for setting up a good imaging modality for early detection of breast cancer are ambient temperature (Ta), convection cooling of tissue surface (h), and tissue compression (c).