Numerical studies of an ultrawideband microwave radar technology for the detection of nonpalpable breast tumors

We are investigating a new ultrawideband microwave radar technology to detect and image early-stage malignant breast tumors that are often invisible to X-rays. In this paper, we present the methodology and results of two- and three-dimensional finite-difference time-domain simulations. The discussion concentrates on the investigation of signal-to-clutter ratios and dynamic range requirements of the microwave system. Our FDTD studies have demonstrated that the sensitivity and dynamic range of an optimized antenna array in conjunction with existing microwave equipment should be adequate to detect noncalcified tumors less than 5 mm in diameter located at depths of up to about 5 cm in the breast.