Applications of microwave active imaging in medicine: past and future

Presents a review of past research efforts devoted to the development of microwave imaging techniques for biomedical applications. After explaining basic principles and different approaches of this new imaging modality, some examples are used to illustrate some promising features and to explain relative disappointment resulting from ten years of investigations devoted to phantom experiments and in vivo assessments. Then, microwave active imaging is considered under a more prospective point of view. Expected developments and future trends are discussed.