Feasibility study of tumor size estimation through time domain peak monitoring.

ABSTRACT

A new ultrawideband (UWB) microwave method to estimate tumor size based upon detection of the tumor/liver interface is proposed. This method involves monitoring the response of a broadband pulse launched down a coaxial treatment antenna and radiated into the tumor. By monitoring the peak in the returned signal, and estimating the propagation velocity within the tumor, the location of the tumor/liver interface can be determined and the size of a spherical lesion estimated. The feasibility of this technique is demonstrated by finite element (FE) electromagnetic simulations of a spherical tumor in the liver. Robustness to noise is also investigated as well as the effects of insertion depth. The promising outcome of this feasibility study suggests that further development of this technique should be pursued.