Segmentation of the breast skin and its influence in the simulation of the breast compression during an X-ray mammography.
A novel method of skin segmentation is presented aimed to obtain as many pixels belonging to the real skin as possible. This method is validated by experts in radiology. In addition, a biomechanical model of the breast, which considers the skin segmented in this way, is constructed to study the influence of considering real skin in the simulation of the breast compression during an X-ray mammography. The reaction forces of the plates are obtained and compared with the reaction forces obtained using classical methods that model the skin as a 2D membranes that cover all the breast. The results of this work show that, in most of the cases, the method of skin segmentation is accurate and that real skin should be considered in the simulation of the breast compression during the X-ray mammographies.
Instituto Interuniversitario de Investigación en Bioingeniería y Tecnología Orientada al Ser Humano/LabHuman, Universitat Politècnica de València, Camino de Vera s/n, 46022 Valencia, Spain. jasolves@labhuman.i3bh.es
J A
JA
Solves Llorens
M J
MJ
Rupérez
C
C
Monserrat
E
E
Feliu
M
M
García
M
M
Lloret
D001940:Breast / Q000502:physiology*; D003198:Computer Simulation; D055119:Elastic Modulus; D006801:Humans; D008327:Mammography / Q000379:methods*; D008954:Models, Biological; D010173:Palpation; D011857:Radiographic Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012867:Skin / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D012879:Skin Physiological Phenomena