Optimizing Antennas for Microwave Medical Imaging: A comprehensive review

Review article, 2025

Microwave medical imaging (MMI) holds promise as a noninvasive and cost-effective screening or monitoring modality with significant potential for various clinical applications. Antennas form the cornerstone of microwave imaging systems, influencing resolution, sensitivity, and overall imaging quality. This article presents a comprehensive review of recent advancements in antenna technologies tailored for MMI across diverse anatomical regions, including breast, brain, knee, and torso imaging. By adapting antennas to specific circumstances and frequencies, ranging from ultra-wideband (UWB) (3.1–10.6 GHz) to lower frequencies for deeper tissue penetration, researchers have made significant strides in enhancing imaging capabilities. This review explores the potential of these advancements to drive the evolution of microwave imaging technologies, offering insights into future research directions and clinical implementations.