New aspects in digital breast assessment: further refinement of a method for automated digital anthropometry

Abstract

Purpose In this trial, we used a previously developed prototype software to assess aesthetic results after reconstructive surgery for congenital breast asymmetry using automated anthropometry. To prove the consensus between the manual and automatic digital measurements, we evaluated the software by comparing the manual and automatic measurements of 46 breasts. Methods Twenty-three patients who underwent reconstructive surgery for congenital breast asymmetry at our institution were examined and underwent 3D surface imaging. Per patient, 14 manual and 14 computer-based anthropometric measurements were obtained according to a standardized protocol. Manual and automatic measurements, as well as the previously proposed Symmetry Index (SI), were compared. Results The Wilcoxon signed-rank test revealed no significant differences in six of the seven measurements between the automatic and manual assessments. The SI showed robust agreement between the automatic and manual methods. Conclusion The present trial validates our method for digital anthropometry. Despite the discrepancy in one measurement, all remaining measurements, including the SI, showed high agreement between the manual and automatic methods. The proposed data bring us one step closer to the long-term goal of establishing robust instruments to evaluate the results of breast surgery. Level of evidence: IV.

Surgery of congenital breast asymmetry-which objective parameter influences the subjective satisfaction with long-term results

“…Regarding our methodology, we would like to point out that we used one of the most innovative techniques currently available on the market, the 3D scanning system Vectra® H2 (Canfield Scientific, USA), which is frequently used in the current literature [8][9][10][11][12]. It was particularly interesting that the volume difference calculated by 3D technology had a significant influence on satisfaction with similarity of the breasts.…”

Surgery of congenital breast asymmetry—which objective parameter influences the subjective satisfaction with long-term results

“…Three-dimensional breast volumetry was performed with the portable Vectra ® H2 (Canfield Scientific, USA), which is frequently used in the literature [18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26]. The 3D model can be analyzed in terms of breast volume and various breast dimensions by using the Breast sculptor ® software package.…”

Implants versus Lipograft – Analysis of Long-Term Results after Congenital Breast Asymmetry Procedure

“…It comes with Vectra ® Breast-Sculptor TM (Canfield Scientific,USA) software for point cloud processing and mesh generation. Using this software, the 3D model can be analysed in terms of breast volume and various breast dimensions as demonstrated in several studies [14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22]. Therefore, thirteen points were marked at the patient and subsequently picked in Breast-Sculptor TM , see Figure 2.…”