Evaluation of volume and shape of breasts: Comparison between traditional and three-dimensional techniques

Abstract

There have been many attempts to evaluate the shape, volume, and contour of breasts both before and after operation. To evaluate and compare results objectively in a reproducible, low-cost way is difficult. The aim of this study was to compare three-dimensional techniques with traditional methods in evaluating the volume and shape of breasts. Twelve patients with breast cancer were evaluated, 6 patients preoperatively and 6 patients postoperatively, using plastic cups, thermoplastic casts, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and three-dimensional imaging techniques. Thermoplastic casts and plastic cups measured better accordance with the volume of the operated breast than either the three-dimensional technique or MRI, which resulted in significantly higher values. The three-dimensional technique offered a new possibility to evaluate the shape of breasts objectively.

Key Words::

• Breast volume
• breast shape
• 3-dimensional imaging techniques
• 3-D laser scan

Acknowledgements

We thank Professor Stefan Johnson (KTH), associate professor Kerstin Sandelin, MD, PhD, Jana de Boniface, and photographer Clas Jon-And, Karolinska University Hospital for their valuable contributions.

Declaration of interest: The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.