Green light for second radar breast imaging study

A pilot study of 15 breast cancer patients using a novel prototype radar scanning device was completed in October 2006 and resulted in some success but highlighted the need for improved radar detection hardware and a better understanding of the way in which the radar interacts with the breast tissue.

Industrial Research scientist Ray Simpkin, says that since then research activities have continued looking at finite element modelling of breast tissue, and developing and measuring synthetic breast tissue, known as phantoms.

“The phantom study is now complete and has been successful in the development of two different types which have properties similar to fatty and average breast tissue. Artificial tumours of different sizes were embedded in each tissue-mimicking material at a range of different depths and radar scans performed in the laboratory using a purposebuilt scanner.”

Sophisticated synthetic focusing software was then used to generate 3D radar images of reflectivity within each phantom. Tumours as small as 5 mm diameter at a depth of 5 cm could be detected in fatty tissue and similar size tumours at a depth of 3 cm in average tissue.

Further to the phantom research, a supplementary study has just commenced to establish the properties of real breast tissue from mastectomy specimens using the same laboratorybased radar scanning technique.

The aim here is to determine the true properties of skin and breast fat within the tissue sample and to use this information in the radar imaging algorithm, Ray Simpkin says.

“The resulting radar images will then be compared to patient mammograms to validate the location and size of malignant tissue within the mastectomy specimen.”

The study is due to be completed by the end of January 2009.