Holographic Microwave Imaging Array for Early Breast Cancer Detection

This paper presents a new Holographic Microwave Imaging Array (HMIA) technique for early breast cancer detection, which is based on microwave holography and aperture synthesis imaging techniques. Using published data for the dielectric properties of normal breast tissues and malignant tumours, a two-dimensional (2D) mathematical model was developed under the MATLAB environment to demonstrate the proposed imaging technique. The computer simulations showed that tumours as small as 2 mm in diameter anywhere within the breast could be successfully detected. The significant imaging improvement was achieved by optimizing antenna array configurations to offer the best possibility of detecting tumours of various size, shape and position.