Microwave imaging of local sugar metabolism for image diagnosis of muscle activity and an early-stage tumor

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A microwave CT which is a computed tomography system using electromagnetic wave has the potential to visualize biological functions of a human body rather than imaging ability of its morphological information. In this study, we have developed visualization technique of sugar metabolism inside a body by use of a microwave CT. Muscle activity of forearms and early stage breast tumor are the goals we wanted to visualize in this study. Physiological- and pathological-conditions of the exercise-loaded forearms and tumor-embedded breasts were evaluated by the other modalities such as optical diffusion tomography, MEG and far infrared thermometry to compare with the observed change in microwave CT images. The change in the CT image suggests the activated condition of inner muscles when some kinds of loads are applied to forearms. It has been shown also that image diagnosis of early stage breast tumor by the microwave CT is feasible. The image shows the position and size of the tumor correctly.