Feasibility of Comparing Microwave Images to Clinical Information in Patients Recalled for Follow-up Breast Imaging
For patients and families
In plain language
An automatic summary of structured registry data. It is an orientation aid, not a substitute for the official protocol or a physician assessment.
- What is being studied
- The protocol lists: WVI-MIS-02-2025.
- Who it may be relevant to
- Registry conditions: Breast - Female. Basic parameters: 18 years — 74 years · Female.
- What needs checking
- Age, condition and sex are only basic indicators. Prior treatment, laboratory values and other mandatory requirements appear in the eligibility criteria below.
- Where it takes place
- Canada
- Next step
- Save the trial, show it to the treating physician, and confirm current recruitment with the study center. Costs, documents and travel →
Unsure about the terms? Read our patient guide →
Overview
The goal of this clinical trial is to measure the electrical properties of breast tissues using microwave technology and to compare these collected measurements to clinical information in mammograms and/or breast ultrasound for women that have been recalled for follow-up breast imaging or further investigation. The main questions it aims to answer are: 1. Can the breast area and plate separation in the microwave scan be compared to mammogram data (where available) to assess similarity in breast positioning and the feasibility of image registration? 2. Can the distribution of electrical properties specifically glandular tissue distribution in the microwave image be compared to that observed in the mammogram (where available)? 3. Can the characteristics of the microwave image in the localized region corresponding to an identified anomaly in the breast imaging data be examined? Study participants will be scanned with the Wave View microwave scanner on the same day as their follow-up breast imaging appointment. Each breast will be scanned up to 3 times with the scanner oriented in both the horizontal position and oriented at 45 degrees. Study participants will also be asked to fill out three surveys, one relating to breast health and the other two relating to their scanning experience.
Detailed description
A new approach to imaging that uses low-power microwaves to scan the breast has been developed. Since the imaging system uses low power, there is no risk of tissue heating. The imaging system places the sensors in contact with the breast tissue. The research team at the University of Calgary has previously developed microwave imaging systems that have been tested on healthy volunteers and breast cancer patients. A group of healthy volunteers were repeatedly scanned to evaluate the consistency of the imaging approach. Another study involved scanning breast cancer patients before each round of neoadjuvant chemotherapy. The information collected from experiences scanning volunteers and patients have been reviewed and translated into a next-generation imaging system design. Aspects of this system have been further improved by Wave View Imaging, which is a company formed by members of the University's research team.
The proposed study involves collecting electrical property measurements of breast tissues and comparing these measurements to clinical information in mammograms and/or breast ultrasounds. The investigators also aim to compare regions of interest in the microwave scans with regions of interest in the mammograms (where available). This includes regions dominated by fibroglandular tissues, as well as regions of interest that correspond to anomalies identified in the mammograms and/or breast ultrasounds.
The plan is to scan both breasts of up to 100 volunteers that have been recalled for follow-up breast imaging or further investigation. Each volunteer will participate in a single scanning session during their follow-up appointment. Breast tissue composition will be compared with the microwave properties and registration of mammograms (where available) with microwave images will be performed for a more detailed comparison.
Interventions
- Device WVI-MIS-02-2025
Microwave scans
Primary outcome measures
- Measurement of electrical properties of breast tissues in microwave images [Time frame: 12 months]
Secondary outcome measures (5)
- Examine the similarity in plate separation between mammography and Wave View scans [Time frame: 12 months]
- Breast area [Time frame: 12 months]
- Examine the similarity between glandular tissue distribution on mammograms and electrical property images obtained with the Wave View scanner. [Time frame: 12 months]
- Examine how closely the presence of responses in Wave View scans correspond to anomalies detected on mammograms and/or breast ultrasounds [Time frame: 12 months]
- Estimate of breast composition [Time frame: 12 months]
Eligibility criteria
Inclusion criteria
- Female sex
- 18-74 years of age
- Able to provide informed consent
- Had a screening or diagnostic mammogram or breast ultrasound within the previous 6 weeks
- Recalled for additional breast imaging due to BIRADS 3 or 4 or 5 findings.
Exclusion criteria
- Participants who have not received a mammogram or breast ultrasound
- Participants who are currently undergoing breast cancer treatment or have had treatment in the past 6 months
- Participants with breast implants
- Participants who are pregnant or breastfeeding
- Participants with active breast skin infections
- Participants with nipple piercings (unless they are removed prior to scanning)
- Participants with an implanted electronic device
- Participants with physical limitations that prevent them from placing their breasts inside the Wave View scanner.
Criteria are shown verbatim from the registry (in English). Final eligibility is always assessed by the study center.
Healthy volunteers: Yes
Study design
- Allocation
- N/A
- Model
- Single group
- Masking
- Open label
- Primary purpose
- Other
Study locations
Canada · 1 center
- Pureform Radiology — Calgary
Publications
- C. M. Butterworth, P. Mojabi, and E. C. Fear, "Quantifying Consistency of Microwave Breast Imaging: Laser Scanning for Assessing Breast Volume and Shape," IEEE Journal of Electromagnetics, RF and Microwaves in Medicine and Biology, pp. 1-9, 2025, doi: 10.1109/JERM.2025.3531693
- Mojabi P, Bourqui J, Lasemiimeni Z, Grewal B, Fear E. Microwave Imaging for Breast Cancer Detection: Performance Assessment of a Next-Generation Transmission System. IEEE Trans Biomed Eng. 2025 Jun;72(6):1787-1799. doi: 10.1109/TBME.2024.3521410. PMID 40031671
- Wang Z, Mojabi P, Price S, Lasemiimeni Z, Besler B, Bourqui J, Deutscher D, Besler B, Shen H, Docktor B, Tsang RY, Fear E. Reproducibility of Microwave Breast Imaging: Analysis of Regular Scans of a Group of Volunteers. IEEE Trans Biomed Eng. 2025 May;72(5):1562-1571. doi: 10.1109/TBME.2024.3512572. Epub 2025 Apr 22. PMID 40030750
- Mojabi P, Bourqui J, Fear E. Fast 3D Breast Imaging With a Transmission-Based Microwave System. IEEE Trans Med Imaging. 2025 May;44(5):2206-2217. doi: 10.1109/TMI.2025.3527916. Epub 2025 May 2. PMID 40030952
- Smith K, Bourqui J, Wang Z, Besler B, Lesiuk M, Roumeliotis M, Quirk S, Grendarova P, Pinilla J, Price S, Docktor B, Fear E. Microwave imaging for monitoring breast cancer treatment: A pilot study. Med Phys. 2023 Nov;50(11):7118-7129. doi: 10.1002/mp.16756. Epub 2023 Oct 6. PMID 37800880
- Smith, K., et al. "Microwave Imaging of the Breast: Consistency of Measurements Over Time." IEEE Journal of Electromagnetics, RF and Microwaves in Medicine and Biology, vol. 6, no. 1, 2022, pp. 61-67, https://doi.org/10.1109/JERM.2021.3099014. . : . .
Identifiers
NCT: NCT07273565 · HREBA.CC-25-0255