# Low Cost Automated Ultrasound for Breast Cancer Detection and Diagnosis

> **NIH NIH UH3** · DR. SUSAN LOVE RESEARCH FOUNDATION · 2020 · $150,000

## Abstract

Project Summary/Abstract
Breast cancer is the most common cause of cancer death among women
worldwide and the numbers are disproportionately high for women in developing
countries. Developing countries demand low-cost, portable diagnostic tools that
are easy to use and do not require additional professional staff to be effective.
We propose a low-cost, portable, automated ultrasound device containing
software to improve the image quality and provide computer-aided detection and
diagnosis (CAD) to locate and distinguish between clearly benign and potentially
malignant palpable breast lumps. While screening has been the focus for
diagnosis in western countries, breast cancer most commonly presents in women
less than 50 years of age and as a palpable lump in developing countries. The
common types of breast lumps in this age group (cysts, fibroadenomas,
fibrocystic change and cancer) are usually distinct on ultrasound with fewer than
10% representing malignancy in young women. Our goal is to develop a device
that could be used by a local health aid to determine which breast lumps need to
be biopsied because they are suspicious and which can be left alone. This would
enable stressed healthcare delivery systems to focus resources on the women
most likely to benefit from their efforts.
 In order to provide an effective tool for breast cancer triage in developing
countries we propose to do the following: 1. Introduce novel algorithms for
ultrasound image enhancement and computer-aided detection and diagnosis
(CAD). These algorithms take advantage of temporal information available in a
live ultrasound scan to determine the probability of malignancy. 2. Clinical trial in
California to determine the sensitivity and specificity of the ultrasound device. A
clinical trial on a cohort group that matches the women in developing countries
will determine the effectiveness of the technology. 3. Clinical trial to validate
effectiveness, acceptability and feasibility of technology in an LMIC environment.
The clinical trial will be performed in Mexico
 This work is a close collaboration with breast cancer expert and surgeon,
Dr. Susan Love, breast imaging radiologist, clinical trial expert Dr. Wendie Berg,
medical and software product development and commercialization expert,
Christine Podilchuk, PhD, technology and commercialization expert, Professor
Richard Mammone, and professor of surgery and global health medicine expert,
Dr. Ben Anderson.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9911937
- **Project number:** 3UH3CA189966-05S1
- **Recipient organization:** DR. SUSAN LOVE RESEARCH FOUNDATION
- **Principal Investigator:** Susan M Love
- **Activity code:** UH3 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $150,000
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2014-08-01 → 2022-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9911937

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9911937, Low Cost Automated Ultrasound for Breast Cancer Detection and Diagnosis (3UH3CA189966-05S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-26 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9911937. Licensed CC0.

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