Dielectric properties estimation of normal and malignant skin tissues at millimeter-wave frequencies using effective medium theory

Abstract

Millimeter-wave reflectometry can be used as a non-invasive method for early detection of skin cancers. Less penetration and higher resolution are only some reasons to use mm-waves for skin cancer diagnosis. The dielectric parameters data of human skin at mm-wave frequencies are not widely addressed in the literature due to the expensive instruments and the complicated structure of human skin. Available dielectric properties of cancerous tissues in the literature are for other tissues rather than skin and are restricted to the frequencies below 20 GHz. In this paper, dielectric properties of healthy and malignant skin tissues were estimated in the range of 20-100 GHz by applying the effective medium theory. A stratified skin model and some skin tumors were presented. The possibility of mm-wave reflectometry for detection of skin cancers has also been studied. The results of this paper can be used as a theoretical basis for taking further steps in skin cancer research.