A second generation of physical anthropomorphic 3D breast phantoms based on human subject data

Adam Nolte; Nooshin Kiarashi; Ehsan Samei; W. Paul Segars; Joseph Y. Lo

doi:10.1117/12.2043703

Translator Disclaimer

19 March 2014 A second generation of physical anthropomorphic 3D breast phantoms based on human subject data

Adam Nolte, Nooshin Kiarashi, Ehsan Samei, W. Paul Segars, Joseph Y. Lo

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 9033, Medical Imaging 2014: Physics of Medical Imaging; 90331Y (2014) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2043703
Event: SPIE Medical Imaging, 2014, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

Previous fabrication of anthropomorphic breast phantoms has demonstrated their viability as a model for 2D (mammography) and 3D (tomosynthesis) breast imaging systems. Further development of these models will be essential for the evaluation of breast x-ray systems. There is also the potential to use them as the ground truth in virtual clinical trials. The first generation of phantoms was segmented from human subject dedicated breast computed tomography data and fabricated into physical models using highresolution 3D printing. Two variations were made. The first was a multi-material model (doublet) printed with two photopolymers to represent glandular and adipose tissues with the greatest physical contrast available, mimicking 75% and 35% glandular tissue. The second model was printed with a single 75% glandular equivalent photopolymer (singlet) to represent glandular tissue, which can be filled independently with an adipose-equivalent material such as oil. For this study, we have focused on improving the latter, the singlet phantom. First, the temporary oil filler has been replaced with a permanent adipose-equivalent urethane-based polymer. This offers more realistic contrast as compared to the multi-material approach at the expense of air bubbles and pockets that form during the filling process. Second, microcalcification clusters have been included in the singlet model via crushed eggshells, which have very similar chemical composition to calcifications in vivo. The results from these new prototypes demonstrate significant improvement over the first generation of anthropomorphic physical phantoms.

Citation Download Citation

Adam Nolte, Nooshin Kiarashi, Ehsan Samei, W. Paul Segars, and Joseph Y. Lo "A second generation of physical anthropomorphic 3D breast phantoms based on human subject data", Proc. SPIE 9033, Medical Imaging 2014: Physics of Medical Imaging, 90331Y (19 March 2014); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2043703

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE