Microwave imaging ‘can offer benefits in breast cancer screening’

A new study has indicated that breast cancer screening could be made more effective through the use of microwave imaging techniques.

This is according to a new University of Calgary study, which suggests that microwave imaging systems could represent a better, cheaper and safer way of detecting early signs of tumours, when compared to traditional means such as X-ray computed tomography and mammography.

Though these methods are known to be effective, microwave imaging is able to detect the differences in the dielectric properties of cancerous and normal tissue, offering better specificity than the established techniques.

As such, microwave imaging systems may be better at identifying whether tumors are benign or malignant. Currently, standardised screening methods cannot pick up on this, with determinations needing to be made through tissue biopsies.

Neil Epstein, a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Calgary, said: "Researchers are realising that this lack of specificity is a significant limitation for conventional imaging techniques and are looking for alternative ways to enhance it. Microwave imaging could fill this niche."

Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer in the UK, but it can be prevented from spreading to other parts of the body if treated early enough.