Pendant breast immobilization and positioning in photoacoustic tomographic imaging

Sjoukje M Schoustra,Tim J.P.M Op 'T Root,Rutger P Pompe Van Meerdervoort,Laurens Alink,Wiendelt Steenbergen,Srirang Manohar

doi:10.1016/j.pacs.2020.100238

Sjoukje M Schoustra, Tim J.P.M Op 'T Root + Show 4 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pacs.2020.100238

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Journal: Photoacoustics	Publication Date: Dec 26, 2020
Citations: 8	License type: cc-by

Affiliation: University of Twente

Abstract

This work describes the design, development and added value of breast-supporting cups to immobilize and position the pendant breast in photoacoustic tomographic imaging. We explain the considerations behind the choice of the material, the shape and sizes of a cup-shaped construct for supporting the breast in water in an imaging tank during full-breast imaging. We provide details of the fabrication, and other processing and testing procedures used. Various experiments were conducted to demonstrate the added value of using these cups. We show that breast movement during a measurement time of four minutes is reduced from maximum 2 mm to 0.1 mm by the use of cups. Further, the presence of the cup, centered in the aperture leading to the imaging tank, ensures that the breast can be reproducibly positioned at the center of the field-of-view of the detection aperture in the tank. Finally, since an accurate delineation of the water-tissue boundary can now be made, the use of the cup enables accurate application of a two-speed of sound model for reconstruction. All in all, we demonstrate that the use of cups to support the breast provides clear enhancement in contrast and resolution of breast images in photoacoustic imaging.

Highlights

In females, breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed type of cancer worldwide [1]
Photo acoustic imaging (PAI), referred to as optoacoustic imaging, is a promising technique being researched around the world for its potential role in different areas of breast cancer management [10]
We show that the use of breast-supporting cups substantially improves image quality in 3D photoacoustic breast imaging

Summary

Introduction

Breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed type of cancer worldwide [1]. Used imaging techniques in the clinic include x-ray mammography (MMG), ultrasonography (US) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) [3]. MMG remains the only imaging technique sensitive enough to be used in screening programs, and has been proven to reduce breast cancer mortality [4,5]. It makes use of ionizing radia tion and sensitivity of detecting breast cancer in women with high mammographic breast density is relatively low [6,7]. Different imaging geometries for PA breast imaging are being developed and tested in clinical settings [10], ranging from handheld 2D linear [15,16] or curvilinear probes [13,17], planar two-dimensional (2D) systems [18, 19], systems with a curved [20] or ring-shaped detector array [21,22], to systems with a hemispherical detector geometry [23,24]

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