title: Anthropomorphic breast phantoms for testing elastography systems.
abstract: Two equivalent anthropomorphic breast phantoms were constructed, one for use in ultrasound elastography and the other in magnetic resonance (MR) elastography. A complete description of the manufacturing methods is provided. The materials used were oil-in-gelatin dispersions, where the volume percent oil differentiates the materials, primarily according to Young's moduli. Values of Young's moduli are in agreement with in vitro ranges for the corresponding normal and abnormal breast tissues. Ultrasound and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) properties are reasonably well represented. Phantoms of the type described promise to aid researchers who are developing hardware and software for elastography. Examples of ultrasound and MR elastograms of the phantoms are included to demonstrate the utility of the phantoms. Also, the level of stability of elastic properties of the component materials is quantified over a 15-month period. Such phantoms can serve as performance-assessing intermediaries between simple phantoms (consisting, for example, of homogeneous cylindrical inclusions in a homogeneous background) and a full-scale clinical trial. Thus, premature clinical trials may be avoided.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Physics, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, USA. elmadsen@wisc.edu
authors.forename: Ernest L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Madsen
authors.forename: Maritza A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Hobson
authors.forename: Gary R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Frank
authors.forename: Hairong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.forename: Jingfeng
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Timothy J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Hall
authors.forename: Tomy
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Varghese
authors.forename: Marvin M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Doyley
authors.forename: John B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Weaver
mesh_terms: D000886:Anthropometry; D001940:Breast; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D004548:Elasticity; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D005780:Gelatin; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008422:Materials Testing / Q000379:methods; D019047:Phantoms, Imaging; D012212:Rheology; D012450:Safflower Oil; D016217:Ultrasonography, Mammary / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D012450:Safflower Oil; D005780:Gelatin