Breast and Tumour Volume Measurements in Breast Cancer Patients Using 3-D Automated Breast Volume Scanner Images

M Lagendijk,E L Vos,C Verhoef,A H J Koning,K P Ramlakhan,W Van Lankeren,L B Koppert

doi:10.1007/s00268-017-4432-6

Abstract

BackgroundThe resection volume in relation to the breast volume is known to influence cosmetic outcome following breast-conserving therapy. It was hypothesised that three-dimensional ultrasonography (3-D US) could be used to preoperatively assess breast and tumour volume and show high association with histopathological measurements.MethodsBreast volume by the 3D-US was compared to the water displacement method (WDM), mastectomy specimen weight, 3-D MRI and three different calculations for breast volume on mammography. Tumour volume by the 3-D US was compared to the histopathological tumour volume and 3-D MRI. Relatedness was based on the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) with corresponding 95% confidence interval (95% CI). Bland–Altman plots were used to graphically display the agreement for the different assessment techniques. All measurements were performed by one observer.ResultsA total of 36 patients were included, 20 and 23 for the evaluation of breast and tumour volume (ductal invasive carcinomas), respectively. 3-D US breast volume showed ‘excellent’ association with WDM, ICC 0.92 [95% CI (0.80–0.97)]. 3-D US tumour volume showed a ‘excellent’ association with histopathological tumour volume, ICC 0.78 [95% CI (0.55–0.91)]. Bland–Altman plots showed an increased overestimation in lager tumour volumes measured by 3-D MRI compared to histopathological volume.Conclusions3-D US showed a high association with gold standard WDM for the preoperative assessment of breast volume and the histopathological measurement of tumour volume. 3-D US is an patient-friendly preoperative available technique to calculate both breast volume and tumour volume. Volume measurements are promising in outcome prediction of intended breast-conserving treatment.

Highlights

For early stage breast cancer, similar survival rates are obtained when performing a mastectomy or breast-conserving therapy [1]
Relatedness was based on the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) with corresponding 95% confidence interval
3-D US showed a high association with gold standard water displacement method (WDM) for the preoperative assessment of breast volume and the histopathological measurement of tumour volume. 3-D US is an patient-friendly preoperative available technique to calculate both breast volume and tumour volume

Summary

Introduction

For early stage breast cancer, similar survival rates are obtained when performing a mastectomy or breast-conserving therapy (i.e. partial removal of the breast followed by whole breast irradiation; BCT) [1]. World J Surg (2018) 42:2087–2093 studies have focused on (preoperative) radiological imaging to predict or improve the cosmetic outcome [4, 5]. One of these preoperative parameters is breast volume, commonly assessed in the area of breast reconstructive surgery [6]. Preoperative breast volume measurements have been described using various three-dimensional (3-D) techniques [6,7,8,9,10]. The resection volume in relation to the breast volume is known to influence cosmetic outcome following breast-conserving therapy. It was hypothesised that three-dimensional ultrasonography (3-D US) could be used to preoperatively assess breast and tumour volume and show high association with histopathological measurements

Methods

Results

Conclusion