UWB microwave detection of breast cancer using SAR

The basis for breast cancer detection with microwave imaging is the contrast in dielectric properties of normal and malignant breast tissues. Ultra wideband (UWB) microwave imaging technique involves illuminating the breast with ultra wideband pulse from an antenna. In this paper we presents a novel method for locating a tumor by illuminating the breast with an ultra wideband signal of 3.2 to 10.6 GHz and identifying the coordinates of maximum value of specific absorption rate (SAR). Results show that at 9 GHz these coordinates could detect a 5 mm tumor in homogeneous breast and at 7 GHz these coordinates could detect a 5 mm tumor in a heterogeneous breast. The same was obtained on increasing the size of the breast. Comparison of SAR values of homogeneous and heterogeneous breast is done. On increasing both the size of the tumor as well as the breast, it was found that larger tumors have a better chance of detection compared to smaller tumors at the same location. Also, as the mass of the normal breast increases the absorbed power values increase.