title: Anthropomorphic breast phantoms with physiological water, lipid, and hemoglobin content for near-infrared spectral tomography.
abstract: Breast mimicking tissue optical phantoms with sufficient structural integrity to be deployed as stand-alone imaging targets are developed and successfully constructed with biologically relevant concentrations of water, lipid, and blood. The results show excellent material homogeneity and reproducibility with inter- and intraphantom variability of 3.5 and 3.8%, respectively, for water and lipid concentrations ranging from 15 to 85%. The phantoms were long-lasting and exhibited water and lipid fractions that were consistent to within 5% of their original content when measured 2 weeks after creation. A breast-shaped three-compartment model of adipose, fibroglandular, and malignant tissues was created with water content ranging from 30% for the adipose simulant to 80% for the tumor. Mean measured water content ranged from 30% in simulated adipose to 73% in simulated tumor with the higher water localized to the tumor-like material. This novel heterogeneous phantom design is composed of physiologically relevant concentrations of the major optical absorbers in the breast in the near-infrared wavelengths that should significantly improve imaging system characterization and optimization because the materials have stand-alone structural integrity and can be readily molded into the sizes and shapes of tissues commensurate with clinical breast imaging.
authors.forename: Kelly E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Michaelsen
authors.forename: Venkataramanan
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Krishnaswamy
authors.forename: Adele
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Shenoy
authors.forename: Emily
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Jordan
authors.forename: Brian W
authors.initials: BW
authors.lastname: Pogue
authors.forename: Keith D
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Paulsen
mesh_terms: D001940:Breast / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000737:chemistry; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006454:Hemoglobins; D006801:Humans; D008055:Lipids; D008954:Models, Biological; D019047:Phantoms, Imaging; D019265:Spectroscopy, Near-Infrared / Q000295:instrumentation*; D014867:Water
chemical_list: D006454:Hemoglobins; D008055:Lipids; D014867:Water