Breast cancer research and treatment reconstruction of unilateral breast structure using three-dimensional ultrasound imaging to assess breast neoplasm

Abstract

Purpose: To develop and evaluate the accuracy of a three-dimensional (3D) US method for assessing unilateral breast reconstruction and discuss the feasibility of breast ultrasound 3D reconstruction of the unilateral breast compared with 3D MRI.

Methods: Sixty-four breast lesions were collected for surgical resection. (1) MRI and US imaging were used to reconstruct the 3D models of the breast neoplasm. The diameters for maximum length, width, and depth of the negative tumor margins were used as the primary standards for comparison. (2) The measurement direction was determined by the largest gravity change between the two body positions. (3) The vertical distance from the midpoint of breast neoplasm to the ipsilateral nipple was calculated via MRI and US reconstruction.

Results: (1) Comparison of the measured size and histopathology of the breast neoplasm showed that US, MRI, and histopathology were highly correlated (p < 0.001). (2) When compared with the other two vertical directions, the direction with the largest gravity change had the greatest difference between MRI and US measurements. (3) The vertical distance from the breast neoplasm to the ipsilateral nipple and skin junction was significantly different (p > 0.05).

Conclusions: We have presented a novel US 3D reconstruction method for evaluating tumor size, which can provide a basis for investigated advanced visualization techniques for assessing breast tissue such as holographic presentation of 3D image data. These methods can provide physicians with a novel approach for making accurate surgical plans, for better communication with patients, and for more effective navigating throughout the operation.

Keywords: Breast neoplasm; Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI); Tumor size; Ultrasound (US).

Fig. 1

Sink design Positive

Fig. 2

Sink design profile: (1) Frame, (2) Seal groove, (3) Slider, (4) Upper frame, (5) Lower frame, (6) Bolt, (7) Lift adjusting plate, (8) Slider support plate, (9) Adjuster screw, (10) Fixing screw

Fig. 3

Examination of the patient with ABVS + sink

Fig. 4

Three-dimensional MRI reconstruction flowchart; three-dimensional ultrasound reconstruction flowchart

Fig. 5

Values of three-dimensional warp knits of breast neoplasm measured via MRI, ultrasound, and histopathology. (The difference measured between MRI and histopathology, the difference measured between US and histopathology, i.e., the correlation between MRI, US, and histopathological measurements, respectively) Three dimensions were used for the correlation test based on the axial direction: a Longest diameter (US: r = 0.87, p < 0.0001, MRI: r = 0.86, p < 0.0001). b Widest diameter (US: r = 0.88, p < 0.0001, MRI: r = 0.79, p < 0.0001). c Deepest diameter (US: r = 0.88, p < 0.0001, MRI: r = 0.86, p < 0.0001). p < 0.05 was considered significant

Fig. 6

Combination of Bland–Altman plot for the differences between imaging modalities and the histopathological size for comparison. The circle indicates the difference in the mean size between the ultrasound and histopathological measurement. The times indicate the difference in the mean size between mammographic and histopathological measurements. The triangle indicates the difference in the mean size between magnetic resonance imaging and histopathological evaluation. a Longest tumor size. b Deepest tumor. c Widest tumor size

Fig. 7

Measurement direction of the breast neoplasm was determined according to the gravity change, and the difference in tumor size between those achieved via three-dimensional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and ultrasound (US) reconstruction was determined. x1: maximum mean value in the sagittal position, x2: maximum mean value in the horizontal position, x3: maximum mean value in the coronal position (**p < 0.01)

Fig. 8

Comparison of the distance of the tumor to the nipple as measured via three-dimensional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and ultrasound (US) reconstruction (**p < 0.01)