volume | PIER Journals

Abstract

Malignant breast tumors differ greatly from healthy tissue in their electrical properties. The specific absorption rate (SAR), which utilizes dielectric properties, including conductivity and permittivity, is a crucial metric for identifying malignant tissue. The use of narrow-band radar technology has shown promise in this regard. In this study, a mono-static, narrow-band, high-directivity printed patch antenna was designed and fabricated on a Rogers RO4350B substrate (ε_r = 3.48, loss tangent = 0.0037) with dimensions of 70 × 55 × 1.52 mm³ and a 50 Ω feed line, operating at 2 GHz to ensure an optimal balance between penetration depth and spatial resolution. A three-dimensional breast phantom (radius 50 mm) was modeled in CST Microwave Studio to evaluate the SAR distribution under microwave exposure. The results consistently show elevated SAR values in malignant regions, with a direct correlation with tumor size, enabling accurate tumor localization based on the coordinates of the maximum SAR. Crucially, the maximum SAR values (4.3708 W/kg for 1-g and 2.4388 W/kg for 10-g tissue) remain within the IEEE controlled-environment safety limits. Powered by the proposed antenna, this SAR-based approach offers a safe, non-ionizing, and potentially effective technique for detecting small or deeply located breast tumors, confirming that diagnostic capability is achieved without any compromise to patient safety.

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Ms. Rachida Boulerbah

Dr. Abdelhalim Chaabane

Dr. Djelloul Aissaoui

Dr. Abderrezak Khalfallaoui