MUSCAT: Among many innovative research projects of the 11th National Research Award organised by the Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation, ‘Influence of Tissue Thermophysical Characteristics and Situ-Cooling on the Detection of Breast Cancer’ was awarded in the Information and Communication Technologies field in the PhD category. This research is carried out by the principal investigator Dr Mohammed bin Abdullah al Husaini, Assistant Professor at Arab Open University Oman.
For this research project, Dr Mohammed al Husaini stated that the research developed a numerical simulation model using COMSOL software to investigate breast thermophysical properties. It focuses on how tumour size, depth, blood perfusion and thermal conductivity affect heat distribution in breasts of varying sizes.
Dr Mohammed elaborated that an emulation experiment with situ-cooling gel demonstrated improved thermal contrast, aiding early breast cancer detection. The objective is to enhance breast cancer detection accuracy by analysing temperature variations influenced by tumour properties and cooling techniques.
As for the main findings, Dr Mohammed mentioned the research project revealed that tumours located deeper or smaller in size are harder to detect due to minimal temperature variation, with the highest skin temperature differences between tumour — and non-tumour-affected breasts could range from 2.58°C to 0.274°C. Moreover, larger breast sizes reduce thermal contrast, while small breast sizes may have difficulty detecting tumours smaller than 0.5 cm, as tumours located at greater depths in the breast layers do not produce significant temperature differences.
The results further showed that applying situ-cooling gel improves thermal contrast, particularly for deeper tumours. For example, for a tumour located at a depth of 10 cm, a thermal difference of 6°C could be achieved using local cooling gel, an achievement that was not possible with the simulation model alone.
Through this study, Dr Mohammed recommended that further clinical studies are required to validate these findings, and that situ-cooling can be integrated as a complementary approach in thermography-based cancer detection.
This research project was published in Applied Sciences in 2023. The research team consisted of Dr Mohammed al Husaini, Prof Mohamed Hadi Habaebi (International Islamic University Malaysia), Dr F M Suliman (King Khalid University), Prof Md Rafiqul Islam (International Islamic University Malaysia), Dr Elfatih A. A Elsheikh (King Khalid University), and Dr Naser A. Muhaisen (International Islamic University Malaysia).
Regarding his win, Dr Mohammed al Husaini mentioned that “winning this award is a great honour and recognition of the importance of our research. It highlights the significance of improving breast cancer detection using non-invasive thermography techniques and situ-cooling.
This recognition gives us the motivation and determination to continue our research, pushing the boundaries of innovation and striving to make a meaningful impact in early breast cancer detection and patient care.”
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