Breast Cancer Detection—A Synopsis of Conventional Modalities and the Potential Role of Microwave Imaging

Abstract

Global statistics have demonstrated that breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed invasive cancer and the leading cause of cancer death among female patients. Survival following a diagnosis of breast cancer is grossly determined by the stage of the disease at the time of initial diagnosis, highlighting the importance of early detection. Improving early diagnosis will require a multi-faceted approach to optimizing the use of currently available imaging modalities and investigating new methods of detection. The application of microwave technologies in medical diagnostics is an emerging field of research, with breast cancer detection seeing the most significant progress in the last twenty years. In this review, the application of current conventional imaging modalities is discussed, and recurrent shortcomings highlighted. Microwave imaging is rapid and inexpensive. If the preliminary results of its diagnostic capacity are substantiated, microwave technology may offer a non-ionizing, non-invasive, and painless adjunct or stand-alone modality that could possibly be implemented in routine diagnostic breast care. Author Contributions: Conceptualization, B.M.M., D.O.'L, S.A.E., and M.J.K.; writing-original draft preparation, B.M.M., D.O.'L and S.A.E., writing-review and editing, B.M.M., D.O.'L, S.A.E., and M.J.K.; supervision, M.J.K.; funding acquisition, M.J.K.; All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.

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“…Microwaves can play a role in both the detection and treatment of breast cancer. Microwave imaging has been researched as an alternative to X-rays and ultrasound screening which have a variety of limitations [ 5 , 50 ]. Microwave imaging is an appropriate alternative as it is a low cost, harmless and potentially easier to perform compared to current methods with high sensitivity.…”

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“…A microwave transceiver can recognize small signal variations with the changes in the electrical properties of human tissues. Recent advances in microwave imaging show that it can be a viable solution as preclinical detection tools in human body imaging [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]. The on-phantom experiments shown in [ 4 ] describe the functionality of a microwave sensor for the successful localization of the target.…”

“…The clinical realization of MI is discussed with recent advancements in [ 3 ], where the MI technology is selected as a complementary modality of the existing screening systems for breast cancer. The potential role of MI and the clinical advances of this imaging is discussed in [ 1 , 2 ] where MI is described as a rapid and inexpensive method of diagnosis as compared to others.…”

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“…Advances in diagnostic methods (e.g., mammography screening, analysis of serum tumor markers and/or circulating tumor cells, imaging methods, etc.) significantly helped in reducing mortality rates [ 3 , 4 , 5 ], though these methods prove to be inept when applied to early detection of metastasis. Metastasis has proven to be the single most significant factor that contributes to the high mortality rates of breast cancer.…”