title: Biomechanical properties of breast tissue, a state-of-the-art review.
abstract: This paper reviews the existing literature on the tests used to determine the mechanical properties of women breast tissues (fat, glandular and tumour tissue) as well as the different values of these properties. The knowledge of the mechanical properties of breast tissue is important for cancer detection, study and planning of surgical procedures such as surgical breast reconstruction using pre-surgical methods and improving the interpretation of clinical tests. Based on the data collected from the analysed studies, some important conclusions were achieved: (1) the Young's modulus of breast tissues is highly dependent on the tissue preload compression level, and (2) the results of these studies clearly indicate a wide variation in moduli not only among different types of tissue but also within each type of tissue. These differences were most evident in normal fat and fibroglandular tissues.
authors: INEGI, Faculdade de Engenharia da Universidade do Porto, Universidade do Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias 404, 4200-465, Porto, Portugal.
authors: Nilza G
authors: NG
authors: Ramião
authors: INEGI, Faculdade de Engenharia da Universidade do Porto, Universidade do Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias 404, 4200-465, Porto, Portugal. palsm@fe.up.pt.|INEGI-Institute of Science and Innovation in Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, University of Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 400, Porto, Portugal. palsm@fe.up.pt.
authors: Pedro S
authors: 0000-0001-9732-4498
authors: PS
authors: Martins
authors: INEGI, Faculdade de Engenharia da Universidade do Porto, Universidade do Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias 404, 4200-465, Porto, Portugal.|Department of Development and Regeneration, Faculty of Medicine, University Hospitals Leuven, Herestraat 49, box 7003, 3000, Leuven, Belgium.
authors: Rita
authors: R
authors: Rynkevic
authors: INEGI, Faculdade de Engenharia da Universidade do Porto, Universidade do Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias 404, 4200-465, Porto, Portugal.|Departamento de Engenharia Mecânica, Faculdade de Engenharia da Universidade do Porto, Universidade do Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 404, 4200-465, Porto, Portugal.
authors: António A
authors: AA
authors: Fernandes
authors: Centro Hospitalar de Vila Nova de Gaia, Serviço de Cirurgia Plástica, Rua Conceição Fernandes, 4434-502, Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal.
authors: Maria
authors: M
authors: Barroso
authors: Centro Hospitalar de Vila Nova de Gaia, Serviço de Cirurgia Plástica, Rua Conceição Fernandes, 4434-502, Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal.
authors: Diana C
authors: DC
authors: Santos
mesh_terms: D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D001940:Breast / Q000502:physiology*; D004548:Elasticity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional
keywords: Breast tissue; Compression loading; Elasticity modulus; Mechanical properties