Comparison of a High-Precision and a Low-Cost VNA for Breast Cancer Ablation Studies

This paper highlights the growing importance of developing alternative methods to mastectomy surgeries, given the increasing incidence of breast cancer in young women. One such alternative is microwave ablation, a minimally invasive technique. This study compares two vector network analyzers (VNAs): the high-precision Agilent E5071B and the low-cost NanoVNA V2 Plus4. Tests were conducted using various materials at different times of the day, revealing a strong correlation between results, with a mean squared error of less than 1%. Accurate measurement of S11 parameters and permittivity is crucial for designing antennas intended for breast cancer ablation, ensuring efficient energy delivery to the targeted tissue.