Use of Three-Dimensional Surface Imaging to Measure Breast Volume in the Upright Position With Acceptable Accuracy.

Abstract

Objective: The utility of three-dimensional surface imaging (3DSI) for measuring breast volume in the upright position has not been established.

Materials and methods: First, the accuracy of 3DSI measurements was evaluated using plastic models with known breast volumes. Then, the breast volumes of 30 patients were measured using 3DSI in the upright position, computed tomography (CT) in the supine position, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the prone position, and mammography (MMG) of the compressed breast. To determine the impact of 3DSI measurements, the correlation coefficients between 3DSI and CT, between MMG and CT, and between MRI and CT were calculated.

Results: The accuracy of 3DSI measurements was confirmed using plastic models. The correlation coefficients between 3DSI and CT, between MRI and CT, and between MMG and CT were 0.83, 0.997, and 0.84, respectively. Although the breast volume measured by 3DSI was closely associated with that measured by CT, this correlation was weaker than that between the MRI- and CT-measured volumes and comparable with that between the MMG- and CT-measured volumes.

Conclusion: 3DSI can be used to measure breast volume in the upright position with clinically acceptable accuracy for the evaluation of cosmetic surgical outcomes.