Investigation into accuracy and reproducibility of a 3D breast imaging system using multiple stereo cameras

Helga Henseler*, Balvinder S. Khambay, Adrian Bowman, Joanna Smith, J. Paul Siebert, Susanne Oehler, Xiangyang Ju, Ashraf Ayoub, Arup K. Ray

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

42 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the validity of a three-dimensional (3D) multiple stereo camera system for objective breast assessment. Methods: A multiple stereo camera system, which consisted of four pods and eight cameras, two cameras on each pod, developed by Glasgow University, was used. Nine specially shaped plaster breast models were captured once, 3Dmodels were constructed and the volume of each plaster model was measured 10 times by the breast analysis tool (BAT) software. A comparison was conducted with water displacement method, and measurements were repeated 10 times. The breast of six live volunteers was captured six times; from each breast capture, a 3D model was constructed and the volume was measured with BAT software. Breast volume assessment by the water displacement method was repeated six times. Results: In all plaster casts, the discrepancies in volume measurements between 3D imaging and water displacement methods did not exceed 40 cc. The overall mean relative difference was 5%. The differences of the two methods were not significant at p = 0.189, overall mean difference: 11.1 cc and 95% confidence interval (CI) was (-6.732, 28.976). In the live models, the differences in breast volume measurements between the 3D imaging and water displacement methods were significant at p ≤ 0.017, overall mean difference: 207.05 cc and 95% CI (56.12, 357.98). Measurements by 3D imaging were consistently smaller. In the live models, 3D imaging overall was a more reproducible method for measuring breast volume than the water displacement method with a standard deviation of 36 units cc-1 and 62.6 units cc-1, respectively. Conclusions: The 3D breast imaging system using multiple stereo cameras was accurate for measuring the volumes of breast-shaped plaster models, and it was more reproducible than the water displacement method in live models. 3D imaging is a reliable method for the comparative assessment of breast volume.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)577-582
Number of pages6
JournalJournal of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery
Volume64
Issue number5
Early online date13 Oct 2010
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 31 May 2011

Keywords

  • 3D breast imaging
  • accuracy
  • multiple stereo cameras
  • reproducibility
  • validity

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Investigation into accuracy and reproducibility of a 3D breast imaging system using multiple stereo cameras'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this