Measuring breast volume in hypertrophy: laser scanning or water displacement?

Philip A Griffin,Kaveeta Deut,Tamara Crittenden,Maciej Henneberg,Elizabeth Lomax,Kalavani Zeitouneh,Nicola R Dean,Daisy E Veitch,Karen Burford,Phillipa Van Essen

doi:10.34239/ajops.v1i2.119

Philip A Griffin, Kaveeta Deut

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.34239/ajops.v1i2.119

Copy DOI

Abstract

Background: The accurate determination of intact breast volume facilitates preoperative planning for women with breast hypertrophy and, in some jurisdictions, is essential in order to justify breast reduction surgery. Not all practitioners have access to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or three dimensional (3D) laser scanning facilities, so the purpose of this study was to determine whether water displacement of the intact breast is an effective substitute method of measurement in women with breast hypertrophy. Methods: A prospective cohort study of breast hypertrophy patients was undertaken. The volume of a total of 322 breasts were determined using water displacement and 3D laser scanning; 194 preoperatively and 128 at 12 months following breast reduction surgery. Pearson correlations, linear regression and Bland-Altman analyses were used to compare the methods of breast volume assessment. Results: The mean breast volume according to 3D laser scan was 1440 millilitres (SD = 588 millilitres) and for water displacement was 1419 millilitres (SD = 811 millilitres). There was a strong linear association between breast volumes as measured using water displacement and 3D laser scanning using a Pearson correlation (r = 0.89, p < 0.001). However, using the Bland-Altman analysis, the two methods were found not to be in agreement, with water displacement values consistently larger than 3D scan values. Conclusions: Despite the strong linear association, water displacement is not an accurate enough tool to be used as a substitute for 3D laser scanning, and therefore not an optimal method of breast volume measurement in women with breast hypertrophy.

Highlights

Breast hypertrophy is for some women a cause of considerable physical and psychosocial impairment, and adversely affects quality of life
While a strong linear association was found between breast volume measurements made using the water displacement technique and 3D laser scanning, the two methods did not have a high level of equivalence
Water displacement of the intact breast is not an accurate enough tool to be used as a substitute for 3D laser scanning, and not an optimal method of breast volume measurement in women with breast hypertrophy

Summary

Introduction

Breast hypertrophy is for some women a cause of considerable physical and psychosocial impairment, and adversely affects quality of life. Breast reduction surgery is widely known to be the most effective treatment for breast hypertrophy.[3] Surgery provides almost immediate symptomatic relief in most cases, and considerably improves the health-related quality of life and wellbeing in women suffering from the functional symptoms of breast hypertrophy.[4,5] Despite these proven benefits, an increase in the prevalence of breast hypertrophy, and in demand for breast reductions, has led to restrictions being placed on surgery by healthcare funders and third-party providers in many jurisdictions. In jurisdictions where restrictive surgical guidelines exist, measurement of intact breast volume is essential in order to justify breast reduction surgery. Not all practitioners have access to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or three dimensional (3D) laser scanning facilities, so the purpose of this study was to determine whether water displacement of the intact breast is an effective substitute method of measurement in women with breast hypertrophy

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion