Construction of mammographic findings simulators to study the interference of silicone implants in the diagnosis of breast cancer

Abstract

Introduction: Breast cancer is the most prevalent malignant neoplasm among women, presenting itself, in 99% of cases, in females. Augmentation mammoplasty is the most performed aesthetic surgical intervention in the world. Objective: This study aims to improve the search for biomaterials compatible with mammographic findings suggestive of malignancy, to further study the interference of silicone implants in mammography exams. Methods: To make the simulators of mammographic findings, a bibliographic study of possible biomaterials that presented compatibility with the breast tissue and with possible neoplastic findings was carried out. The validation process of the simulators made in this work was carried out in two stages. Results: The result found was a density variation between 2.54 and 2.57 (dimensionless unit). For the second plate, the individual optical density of each material was analyzed. The results found for fiberglass ranged between 1.95 and 2.63. For chicken eggshells between 0.59 and 0.80. For the glycerin suppository, values between 1.43 and 2.29 were found. And for plastic PVC film 1.78 to 2.53. Conclusion: Given the above, it is observed that the first plate as a whole is compatible with mammographic studies. However, on the second plate, when the materials were analyzed separately, it was observed that fiberglass and plastic PVC film were the closest to compatibility with the commercial phantom, being compatible materials to simulate breast neoplasms in possible further studies.