Microwave imaging for tumour detection

A dielectric measurement system can be used to characterise some tumours but the problems of resolution and attenuation have not been solved. There is no way that these techniques will give resolution even approaching that of X-rays, but may have some value in locating centres of tumour activity and acting as a guide to biopsy techniques. Like X-rays the problem of finding tumours in the dense breast tissue of younger women cannot be solved even by this harmless and freely useable modality. Given therefore that there is a need for additional screening methods, that there are differences between tumour and healthy tissue to detect, and that microwaves in very low powers are completely harmless, a study of RF and microwave imaging has been carried out