Three-dimensional reconstruction technique in breast volume measurement and its artificial influencing factors

Abstract

Objective To set up a method of three-dimensional breast volume measurement, to observe the effect of the artificial influencing factors on the final data, which are used for 3-D reconstruction of breast volume. Methods The CT data were used to reconstruct a digital prototype of the breast implant and the chest. The 3-D models were established firstly, and then the model was reasonablly cut to get single breast volume, breast implant volume, differences of the both sides of chest and breast volume. These methods were put up by the repeated test when the reference frame and the ranges were fixed. And the analysis of the artificial influencing factors was performed on 10 women whose breasts were unsym-metrical. The effects of the artificial influencing factors were analyzed by moving the coordinate axis, revolving the chest around the coordinate axis and changing the selected area. Results The repeatable test showed that the error was less than 4. 08 ml. The average volume differences between both sides of the breast before and after the given influencing factors were set, were 10. 339 ml and 7. 73 ml, as moved ± 4mm along the axis X; as revolving ±2° along the axis Z, that were 8. 654 ml and 7. 971 ml; as increasing or decreasing of the selected diameter of ± 4 mm, that were 6. 764 ml and 4. 267 ml, respectively. Conclusion Using the 3-D reconstruction technique for breast volume measurement is more simple, accurate and repeatable. Key words: Breast; Computer-assisted; Image reconstruction