A novel approach using optical fringe analysis for breast carcinoma detection

Abstract

Breast carcinoma is one of the primary cancers diagnosed among woman with 25.1 % accounted of all cancers in women. Recognized methods for breast carcinoma detection and diagnosis include breast self examination (BSE), physical examination, invasive methods such as fine needle aspiration (FNA) and biopsy and non-invasive breast imaging methods such as mammography, ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). However, BSE, CBE, mammography, ultrasound and MRI are not entirely noninvasive as the methods somehow requires physical touches to the breast. Based on the reported previous works, the feasibility of using an optical method is evident as a full non contact and non invasive method, and there is room for vast improvement in using optical methods for early breast carcinoma detection based on surface analysis. Fringe projection techniques are emerging as non-contact tool in optical metrology with applications ranging from 3D Micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) component measurement, accurate flatness measurement, vibration analysis and biomedical applications for assessment of complex three-dimensional human form. Despite the vast applications in the biomedical field, application of fringe projection in breast carcinoma detection and assessment is notably minimal. Thus, in this work, the usage of a fringe projection rig based on phase shift technique for non-invasive surface metrology analysis of the breast as an adjunct tool for early breast carcinoma detection was done. The fringe projection rig was utilized to analyze the surface changes of the breast due to the presence of breast lump within the breast.