Microwave imaging for breast cancer detection: Experimental comparison of Confocal and Holography algorithms

Confocal and Holography algorithms are two different types of active microwave imaging radar-based techniques and are commonly applied to UWB systems for their good performance. In this paper, we present a comparison of both algorithms by using an experimental breast phantom to show the results. The breast phantom consists of a semispherical recipient of glass to represent the skin layer and three homogeneous spheres that simulate the tumors, which are a mixture of flour and water. Two different measurement systems are required and implemented for the different microwave imaging algorithms. The results consist of 2D reconstructed images, which demonstrate a viability of both algorithms for detection of tumor from 15 mm diameter, although some refinement is needed to have more accuracy in the tumor position. However, the concern for confocal technique is the contrast of the image, while holographic is the location of the real tumor phantom without imaginary targets on a wide reconstruction area.