NADINE: new approaches to detecting breast cancer by sequential μm-wavelength imaging with the aid of novel frequency analysis techniques

Abstract

The study focuses on 12 breasts of six breast cancer patients sequential µm-wavelength imaging, taken by two different 3–5 μm wavelength area indium antimony (InSb) photovoltaic cameras. The aim of the study was to compare the functionality of area and pixel-based frequency analyses. Comparisons between these frequency analysis methods were made according to their relevancy to mammographic findings. Another objective of the study was to find reliable imaging conditions by specifying the border conditions for the patient stabilizing imaging bed and managing the imaging situation. According to the results, the match of pixel based frequency analysis to the mammography findings is better than using area frequency analysis. The results also indicate that when the optical axis of the camera in relation to the surface of the breast to be imaged grows to more than 40°, the emissivity changes dramatically and at that point reliable results will not be obtained. Consequently the analysis of the imagined breast requires more images to be fused into one analysis image to cover the whole breast.

Keywords::

• Sequential μm-wavelength imaging
• Image processing
• Frequency analysis
• Reliability area
• Breast cancer

Acknowledgements

This study was financially supported by the Finnish Cultural Foundation and Competitive Research Funding of the Pirkanmaa Hospital District, Finland.

Declaration of interest:The authors report no conflicts of interest.