Breast Ultrasound Tomography: Preliminary In Vivo Results

The paper presents the preliminary results of examinations of biological structures and healthy breast tissue in vivo obtained with the developed ultrasound tomography model. This device uses an innovative combination of ultrasound transmission tomography (UTT) and ultrasound reflection tomography (URT) which enable to obtain three-dimensional images in the same way as in the classical computer tomography (CT). The huge advantage of these methods is not exposing the patient to ionizing radiation. Compared to conventional breast ultrasonic echography (US), UTT and URT methods enable to acquire a much larger amount of information whose clinical significance has not been well documented yet. Based on the preliminary results, it is anticipated that the ultrasound tomography may contribute to the creation of a new standard of diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer. Currently, a Polish manufacturer of ultrasound scanners aims at getting an ultrasonic tomography device for examining women's breasts to market.