title: Objective breast symmetry evaluation using 3-D surface imaging.
abstract: This study develops an objective breast symmetry evaluation using 3-D surface imaging (Konica-Minolta V910(®) scanner) by superimposing the mirrored left breast over the right and objectively determining the mean 3-D contour difference between the 2 breast surfaces. 3 observers analyzed the evaluation protocol precision using 2 dummy models (n = 60), 10 test subjects (n = 300), clinically tested it on 30 patients (n = 900) and compared it to established 2-D measurements on 23 breast reconstructive patients using the BCCT.core software (n = 690). Mean 3-D evaluation precision, expressed as the coefficient of variation (VC), was 3.54 ± 0.18 for all human subjects without significant intra- and inter-observer differences (p > 0.05). The 3-D breast symmetry evaluation is observer independent, significantly more precise (p < 0.001) than the BCCT.core software (VC = 6.92 ± 0.88) and may play a part in an objective surgical outcome analysis after incorporation into clinical practice.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic Surgery and Hand Surgery, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München, Ismaninger Straße. 22, D-81675 München, Germany.
authors.forename: Maximilian
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Eder
authors.forename: Fee V
authors.initials: FV
authors.lastname: Waldenfels
authors.forename: Alexandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Swobodnik
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Klöppel
authors.forename: Ann-Kathrin
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Pape
authors.forename: Tibor
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Schuster
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Raith
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kitzler
authors.forename: Nikolaos A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Papadopulos
authors.forename: Hans-Günther
authors.initials: HG
authors.lastname: Machens
authors.forename: Laszlo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kovacs
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001940:Breast / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods*; D016462:Mammaplasty / Q000379:methods; D012984:Software