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Review
. 2017 Jul 5;17(7):1572.
doi: 10.3390/s17071572.

Early Diagnosis of Breast Cancer

Lulu Wang  1   2
Affiliations
Review

Early Diagnosis of Breast Cancer

Lulu Wang. Sensors (Basel). .

Abstract

Early-stage cancer detection could reduce breast cancer death rates significantly in the long-term. The most critical point for best prognosis is to identify early-stage cancer cells. Investigators have studied many breast diagnostic approaches, including mammography, magnetic resonance imaging, ultrasound, computerized tomography, positron emission tomography and biopsy. However, these techniques have some limitations such as being expensive, time consuming and not suitable for young women. Developing a high-sensitive and rapid early-stage breast cancer diagnostic method is urgent. In recent years, investigators have paid their attention in the development of biosensors to detect breast cancer using different biomarkers. Apart from biosensors and biomarkers, microwave imaging techniques have also been intensely studied as a promising diagnostic tool for rapid and cost-effective early-stage breast cancer detection. This paper aims to provide an overview on recent important achievements in breast screening methods (particularly on microwave imaging) and breast biomarkers along with biosensors for rapidly diagnosing breast cancer.

Keywords: biomarker; breast cancer; microwave biosensor; microwave imaging; microwave-sensing; radio frequency biosensor.

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Conflict of interest statement

The author declares no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
(a) Multi-frequency MWT prototype; (b) Reconstructed images of right breast at different frequencies (top row—permittivity and bottom row —conductivity)
Figure 2
Figure 2
(a) CS-based MWT configuration; (b) MRI-based breast phantom; (c) 3D reconstructed breast image.
Figure 2
Figure 2
(a) CS-based MWT configuration; (b) MRI-based breast phantom; (c) 3D reconstructed breast image.
Figure 3
Figure 3
(a) TSAR prototype; (b) TSAR images from a patient.
Figure 4
Figure 4
(a) Wearable microwave radar system; (b) prototype; (c) reconstructed human breast image.
Figure 4
Figure 4
(a) Wearable microwave radar system; (b) prototype; (c) reconstructed human breast image.
Figure 5
Figure 5
(a) RF measurement setup of the SRR-based RF biosensor; (b) schematic of the SRR-based RF biosensor; (c) simulated and measured results of the SRR-based RF biosensor. S11 denotes the reflection and S21 means transmission coefficient.
Figure 6
Figure 6
Quantum dot based optical biosensor for detection of MCF-7 cells [26].
Figure 7
Figure 7
Electrochemical biosensor for detection of MCF-7 cells [26].
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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