Off-campus UMass Amherst users: To download campus access theses, please use the following link to log into our proxy server with your UMass Amherst user name and password.

Non-UMass Amherst users: Please talk to your librarian about requesting this thesis through interlibrary loan.

Theses that have an embargo placed on them will not be available to anyone until the embargo expires.

Access Type

Open Access

Document Type

thesis

Degree Program

Electrical & Computer Engineering

Degree Type

Master of Science (M.S.)

Year Degree Awarded

2012

Month Degree Awarded

September

Keywords

THz, medical imaging, reflectivity, refractive index, FDTI, breast cancer

Abstract

This project evaluates the ability of terahertz (THz) radiation to differentiate cancerous from non-cancerous human breast lumpectomy and mastectomy tissue. This is done by aiming a narrow-band THz beam at medical samples and measuring reflected power. THz images of specimens from Breast Conservation Surgery (BCS) were created using a gas laser source and mechanical scanning. The design and characterization of this system is discussed in detail. The images were correlated with optical histological micrographs of the same specimens and discrimination values of more than 70% were found for five of the six samples using Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) analysis.

DOI

https://doi.org/10.7275/3277773

First Advisor

Sigfrid K. Yngvesson

Second Advisor

Paul R. Siqueira

Download
COinS