A sensitivity study for microwave breast cancer detection using the Contrast-Source Integral Equation and realistic anthropomorphic numerical 3-D phantoms

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Angiulli, G.^{a; *} | De Carlo, D.^a | Isernia, T.^a

Affiliations: [a] University Mediterranea, via Graziella – Loc. Feo di Vito, Reggio Calabria, Italy

Correspondence: [*] Corresponding author: G. Angiulli, Univ. Mediterranea, via Graziella – Loc. Feo di Vito, 89100 Reggio Calabria, Italy. Tel.: +39 0965 872285; Fax: +39 0965 875 275; E-mail: giovanni.angiulli@unirc.it

Abstract: In this paper, a sensitivity study aimed to evaluate how the field scattered by a malignant tumor is influenced by the operation frequency f_o of the microwave tomographic diagnostic system, and by the permittivity {ϵ}_f of the matching fluid, is presented. The study has been carried out exploiting accurate anthropomorphic numerical breast phantoms in conjunction with the Contrast Source Integral Equation. Numerical results provide useful insights towards an optimal choice of these parameters able to enhance the cancer's detectability.

Keywords: Breast cancer, Contrast Source Integral Equation, microwave imaging

DOI: 10.3233/JAE-131694

Journal: International Journal of Applied Electromagnetics and Mechanics, vol. 43, no. 3, pp. 207-214, 2013