Brain tumor detection using electrical capacitance volume tomography (ECVT)

In this study, for the first time, we have used the ECVT technique, developed earlier for real-time and volumetric imaging of brain activity, to detect the presence of brain tumor. The ECVT sensor system measures the capacitance of electrical signals of the brain on the cortex, and generates a volumetric map of the brain activity on the cortex and inside the brain through a tomography image reconstruction algorithm based on a Neural-Network Multi-criteria Optimization Image Reconstruction Technique (NN-MOIRT). The ECVT is able to detect brain tumors through an examination of the brain functional abnormalities, as the tumors block the propagation of neuro-signals and cause abnormalities in the brain activity image. The ECVT sensor design has been optimized for the detection of the brain tumors in different sensitivity regions of the brain. Case studies have been carried out to five volunteers suffering from different brain tumors including ependymoma, oligodendroglioma, cranio-pharyngioma, germinoma pineal, and cerebellopontine angle tumors. Comparisons with their respective CT and MRI results have also been performed. The study has shown a great feasibility of the 4D imaging technique as a complementary alternative for a high speed non-radiation technique for brain cancer detection and functional imaging.