J.Jpn. Surg. Soc.. 91(5): 622-630, 1990

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Original article

DIAGNOSIS OF MAMMARY GLAND DISEASES USING MICROWAVE THERMOGRAPHY : A STUDY ON ADJUNCTIVE DIAGNOSTIC METHODS IN RELATION TO DIFFERENT FACTORS IN BREAST DISEASES

Since 1982, a 4.7GHz microwave radiometer has been used for diagnosis of mammary gland diseases by obtaining temperature information on the region surrounding deeply located tumors. The subjects comprised 95 cases of malignant tumors and 331 cases of benign tumors (total, 426 cases). The analysis of the diagnostic results showed a 91.3% specificity, 72.6% sensitivity, 70.4% predictability, and 87.1% accuracy. The method provides different information on temperatures from conventional infrared telethermography and contact thermography due to the tissue permeability of microwave. Utilizing a combination of conventional methods and microwave thermography (MWT), the diagnostic rate was found to be 94.7%, resulting in an accuracy improvement of approximately 10%.
Various factors are investigated for their effects on MWT diagnosis. No significant difference was seen with respect to histologic types. Although significant difference was seen with respect to histologic types. Although significant difference was not observed in relation to the diameter of the tumor, the diagnostic rate in T1 cases, which was 75.0% using two conventional methods, was improved to 100% when combined with MWT. Tumor depth revealed no significant difference. Tumor vascular density showed a high correlation with temperature measured by MWT.

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