Breast cancer is the most common malignancy among women worldwide and the second leading cause of cancer-related death. However, mammography (MMG), a conventional screening modality, has several limitations, including low sensitivity in dense breasts and a high false-positive rate. Recent studies have reported that the electrical and dielectric properties of breast cancer differ from those of normal tissues, leading to the development of microwave imaging techniques for breast imaging.

This book introduces a new perspective on the electromagnetic functions of tumor tissues and peripheral stroma. It begins with clinical diagnosis and is followed by pathological diagnosis. To highlight the roles of conventional imaging modalities, it reviews the principles and theories underlying methodologies such as MMG, computed tomography (CT), ultrasonography (US), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and positron emission tomography (PET). Furthermore, it discusses the recent advances in microwave imaging as a non-invasive screening modality in terms of their principles and theoretical foundations. Enhanced by numerous diagrams and graphics, the book serves as a valuable resource for engineering and medical students, as well as researchers interested in the principles and applications of breast imaging technologies.

Takamaro Kikkawa is a professor emeritus at Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan. He received his PhD from Tokyo Institute of Technology, Japan, in 1994. He joined NEC Corporation, Tokyo, Japan, in 1976 and was a visiting scientist at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA, from 1983 to 1984. From 1998 to 2024, he was a professor at the Research Institute for Semiconductor Engineering, Hiroshima University, Japan. His research focuses on semiconductor nanodevice technologies and breast cancer detection technologies.