Mechanical and hemodynamic responses of breast tissue under mammographic-like compression during functional dynamic optical imaging

Abstract

Studying tissue hemodynamics following breast compression has the potential to reveal new contrast mechanisms for evaluating breast cancer. However, how compression will be distributed and, consequently, how hemodynamics will be altered inside the compressed breast remain unclear. To explore the effect of compression, 12 healthy volunteers were studied by applying a step compression increase (4.5–53.4 N) using an optical imaging system capable of concurrently measuring pressure distribution and hemodynamic responses. Finite element analysis was used to predict the distribution of internal fluid pressure (IFP) in breast models. Comparisons between the measured pressure distribution and the reconstructed hemodynamic images for the healthy volunteers indicated significant (p < 0.05) negative correlations. The findings from a breast cancer patient showed that IFP distribution during compression strongly correlates with the observed differential hemodynamic images. We concluded that dynamic breast compression results in non-uniform internal pressure distribution throughout the breast that could potentially drive directed blood flow. The encouraging results obtained highlight the promise of developing dynamic optical imaging biomarkers for breast cancer by interpreting differential hemodynamic images of breast tissue during compression in the context of measured pressure distribution and predicted IFP.

Functional hemodynamic imaging markers for the prediction of pathological outcomes in breast cancer patients treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy

“…This enabled us to explore the role of compression-induced hemodynamic DOT markers, previously demonstrated useful in the differential diagnosis of breast cancer, in monitoring therapy outcomes. 35 – 44 Also, at each imaging session, the study breast radiologist marked the tumor outlines on DBT images acquired immediately after the DOT imaging, providing a standard-of-care NACT response evaluation metric based on changes in anatomic tumor size as the reference for comparison with DOT-derived imaging markers. Another distinction of our study from many prior ones is the use of more stringent AUC calculations based on LOOCV for a more realistic estimation of the predictive power of DOT imaging markers despite a relatively small sample size.…”

“…In the meantime, our group 35 – 39 and others 40 – 44 have explored the hemodynamic response of breast tissue to fractional mammographic compression as a novel contrast mechanism for optical breast cancer imaging. In a small study conducted with a standalone fast dynamic DOT imager, we were able to show normalization in breast tumor hemodynamics under compression in responders to NACT.…”

Reflective optical imaging for scattering medium using chaotic laser

“… – 14 Parallel plate transmission configuration is similar to X-ray mammography. It allows for effective imaging of the breast and detection of abnormalities 15 , 16 . Ring configuration is suitable for mammogram and functional brain imaging.…”

“…It allows for effective imaging of the breast and detection of abnormalities. 15 , 16 Ring configuration is suitable for mammogram and functional brain imaging. This configuration offers the advantage of capturing images from multiple angles and provides comprehensive information about the detection tissue.…”