title: Breast volume estimation from systematic series of CT scans using the Cavalieri principle and 3D reconstruction.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Preoperative breast volume estimation is very important for the success of the breast surgery. In the present study, two different breast volume determination methods, Cavalieri principle and 3D reconstruction were compared.
  
  
  METHODS
  Consecutive sections were taken in slice thickness of 5 mm. Every 2nd breast section in a set of consecutive sections was selected. We marked breast tissue with blue line on each selected section, and so prepared CT scans used for breast volume estimation. The volumes of the 60 breasts were estimated using the Cavalieri principle and 3D reconstruction.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean breast volume value was established to be 467.79 ± 188.90 cm(3) with Cavalieri method and 465.91 ± 191.41 cm(3) with 3D reconstruction. The mean CE for the estimates in this study was calculated as 0.25%. Skin-sparing volume was about 91.64% of the whole breast volume. Both methods are very accurate and have a strong linear association.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results suggest that the calculation of breast volume or its part in vivo from systematic series of CT scans using the Cavalieri principle or 3D breast reconstruction is accurate enough to have a significant clinical benefit in planning reconstructive breast surgery. These methods can help the surgeon guide the choice of the most appropriate implant or/and flap preoperatively.
authors: Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Novi Sad, Serbia. Electronic address: mirela.eric@gmail.com.
authors: Mirela
authors: M
authors: Erić
authors: Department of Industrial Engineering and Management, Faculty of Technical Sciences, University of Novi Sad, Serbia.
authors: Andraš
authors: A
authors: Anderla
authors: Department of Industrial Engineering and Management, Faculty of Technical Sciences, University of Novi Sad, Serbia.
authors: Darko
authors: D
authors: Stefanović
authors: Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Novi Sad, Serbia.
authors: Miodrag
authors: M
authors: Drapšin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001940:Breast / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D016462:Mammaplasty; D008327:Mammography; D008408:Mastectomy; D008875:Middle Aged; D009929:Organ Size; D012016:Reference Values; D012044:Regression Analysis; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: 3D reconstruction; Breast; CAD software; Cavalieri principle; SolidWorks; Volume estimation