How much error is associated with calculating breast volume from three-dimensional breast scans obtained when women are standing? Implications for bra design and bra fit

Abstract

Background

A lying prone position is recommended when scanning women’s breasts to ensure the entire breast can be visualised. However, several large databases contain three-dimensional scans of women’s breasts and torsos that were obtained while the women were standing. This study aimed to establish the error associated with calculating breast volume from three-dimensional breast scans taken when women were standing relative to lying prone.

Methods

Breast volume was derived for 378 women with Small, Medium, Large and Hypertrophic breast sizes from scans taken while the women were standing and then lying prone.

Results

The magnitude of error associated with breast volume derived from scans obtained while women stood compared to lying prone, ranged from ∼8–22% and increased with increasing breast size.

Conclusion

Errors associated with breast volume data derived from breast scans collected while women stand must be accounted for, particularly for women with Medium, Large and Hypertrophic breast sizes. Practitioner summary: This original research provides evidence for bra designers and manufacturers on the degree of error associated when using breast scans obtained while women were standing, such as those scans readily available in large scanning databases. These errors increase with increasing breast size and must be accounted for when sizing and designing bra cups.

Keywords:

• Breast volume
• three-dimensional scanning
• scanning position
• bra design

Acknowledgements

The authors thank the women who volunteered to participate in this study, as well as the many research assistants who helped collect data. We also thank the Illawarra, Penrith, Hunter and Central Coast Women’s Health centres for allowing us to use their facilities, and for their enthusiastic support for the study.

Disclosure statement

This research has been conducted with the support of the Australian Government Research Training Program Scholarship and the Sports Medicine Australia Research Foundation, who provided partial funding towards this study. There are no conflicts of interests to declare.