Objective breast symmetry evaluation using 3-D surface imaging

Abstract

This study develops an objective breast symmetry evaluation using 3-D surface imaging (Konica-Minolta V910(®) scanner) by superimposing the mirrored left breast over the right and objectively determining the mean 3-D contour difference between the 2 breast surfaces. 3 observers analyzed the evaluation protocol precision using 2 dummy models (n = 60), 10 test subjects (n = 300), clinically tested it on 30 patients (n = 900) and compared it to established 2-D measurements on 23 breast reconstructive patients using the BCCT.core software (n = 690). Mean 3-D evaluation precision, expressed as the coefficient of variation (VC), was 3.54 ± 0.18 for all human subjects without significant intra- and inter-observer differences (p > 0.05). The 3-D breast symmetry evaluation is observer independent, significantly more precise (p < 0.001) than the BCCT.core software (VC = 6.92 ± 0.88) and may play a part in an objective surgical outcome analysis after incorporation into clinical practice.

Review of three-dimensional (3D) surface imaging for oncoplastic, reconstructive and aesthetic breast surgery

“…Eder et al [39] compared 3D laser imaging and BCCT.core software in 23 patients undergoing free TRAM (transverse rectus abdominis myocutaneous) breast reconstruction. BCCT.core and 3D-SI were compared by analysing breast surface area difference (BAD) between the left and right breast using the 3D-SI and frontal views of the 2D photography using BCCT.com software.…”

“…3D laser scanning images are achieved by the principle of triangulation: a laser beam is projected on the patient's torso, the rays are reflected and captured by a detector which is sensitive to their orientation [32,39]. The locations of all of the reflecting point on the torso's surface can then be determined in three dimensions.…”

Breast size and asymmetry during pregnancy in dependence of a fetus's sex

“…The boundaries of breasts were identified using the scanned pictures instead of identifying points on the patient prior to scanning, which is a technique used in previous reports (e.g., Eder et al, 2012;Losken et al, 2005). Once the boundaries were identified, the volumes of left and right breast were measured separately.…”

Is Breast Asymmetry Present in Girls with Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis?

“…When performing aesthetic or reconstructive breast surgery, the plastic surgeon relies mostly on his/her aesthetic opinions and artistic skills as well as his/her experience [7]. Various methods to measure breast volume have been reported: Archimedian methods based on the water displacement principle [8][9][10], 3D thermoplastic casting [11][12][13], direct (from body surface) [14][15][16][17][18] or indirect (from 2D imaging such as photographs, mammograms or ultrasounds) [19][20][21] anthropometric measures, modern radiologic procedures (CT and MRI) and 3D body surface reconstruction obtained from biplanar images such as stereo photography, laser or phase shifted interferometry 3D surface scanning [22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33][34][35][36][37][38][39][40][41]. To date, MRI measurements show the highest level of precision and are considered the gold standard for breast volume measurement [32,[42][43][44].…”