Joyce Ramsay1, Lama Seoud2, Soraya Barchi3, Farida Cheriet4, Julie Joncas3, Isabelle Turgeon3, Philippe Debanné4, Isabelle Trop5, Hubert Labelle3, Stefan Parent6. 1. Sainte-Justine University Hospital Research Center 3175, Chemin de la Côte-Sainte-Catherine, Montreal, Quebec H3T 1C5, Canada; University of Montreal, Faculty of Medecine, 2900 Edouard-Montpetit Boulevard, Montreal, Quebec H3T 1J4, Canada. 2. Polytechnique Montreal, 2500 Chemin de Polytechnique, Montreal, Quebec H3T 1J4, Canada. 3. Sainte-Justine University Hospital Research Center 3175, Chemin de la Côte-Sainte-Catherine, Montreal, Quebec H3T 1C5, Canada. 4. Sainte-Justine University Hospital Research Center 3175, Chemin de la Côte-Sainte-Catherine, Montreal, Quebec H3T 1C5, Canada; Polytechnique Montreal, 2500 Chemin de Polytechnique, Montreal, Quebec H3T 1J4, Canada. 5. Hôtel-Dieu University of Montreal Hospital Center, 3840 Saint Urbain Street, Montreal, Quebec H2W 1T8, Canada. 6. Sainte-Justine University Hospital Research Center 3175, Chemin de la Côte-Sainte-Catherine, Montreal, Quebec H3T 1C5, Canada; University of Montreal, Faculty of Medecine, 2900 Edouard-Montpetit Boulevard, Montreal, Quebec H3T 1J4, Canada. Electronic address: stefan.parent@umontreal.ca.
Abstract
STUDY DESIGN: Cohort study. OBJECTIVES: To assess breast asymmetry (BA) directly with 3D surface imaging and to validate it using MRI values from a cohort of 30 patients with significant adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS). Also, to study the influence of posture (prone vs standing) on BA using the automated method on both modalities. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: BA is a common concern in young female patients with AIS. In a previous study using MRI, we found that the majority of patients with significant AIS experienced BA of up to 21% in addition to their chest wall deformity. MRI is costly and not always readily available. 3D surface topography, which offers fast and reliable breast acquisitions without radiation or distortion of the body surface, is an alternative method in the clinical setting. METHODS: Thirty patients with AIS were enrolled in the study on the basis of their thoracic curvature, skeletal and breast maturity, without regard to their perception of their BA. Each patient underwent two imaging studies of their torso: a 3D trunk surface topography and a breast MRI. An automated breast volume measuring method was proposed using a program developed with Matlab programming. RESULTS: Strong correlations were obtained when comparing the proposed method to the MRI on the left breast volumes (LBV) (r = 0.747), the right breast volumes (RBV) (r = 0.805) and the BA (r = 0.614). Using the same method on both imaging modalities also yielded strong correlation coefficients on the LBV (r = 0.896), the RBV (r = 0.939) and the BA (r = 0.709). CONCLUSIONS: The proposed 3D body surface automated measurement technique is feasible clinically and correlates very well with breast volumes measured using MRI. Additionally, breast volumes remain comparable despite being measured in different body positions (standing and prone) in a young cohort of AIS patients. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV.
STUDY DESIGN: Cohort study. OBJECTIVES: To assess breast asymmetry (BA) directly with 3D surface imaging and to validate it using MRI values from a cohort of 30 patients with significant adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS). Also, to study the influence of posture (prone vs standing) on BA using the automated method on both modalities. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: BA is a common concern in young female patients with AIS. In a previous study using MRI, we found that the majority of patients with significant AIS experienced BA of up to 21% in addition to their chest wall deformity. MRI is costly and not always readily available. 3D surface topography, which offers fast and reliable breast acquisitions without radiation or distortion of the body surface, is an alternative method in the clinical setting. METHODS: Thirty patients with AIS were enrolled in the study on the basis of their thoracic curvature, skeletal and breast maturity, without regard to their perception of their BA. Each patient underwent two imaging studies of their torso: a 3D trunk surface topography and a breast MRI. An automated breast volume measuring method was proposed using a program developed with Matlab programming. RESULTS: Strong correlations were obtained when comparing the proposed method to the MRI on the left breast volumes (LBV) (r = 0.747), the right breast volumes (RBV) (r = 0.805) and the BA (r = 0.614). Using the same method on both imaging modalities also yielded strong correlation coefficients on the LBV (r = 0.896), the RBV (r = 0.939) and the BA (r = 0.709). CONCLUSIONS: The proposed 3D body surface automated measurement technique is feasible clinically and correlates very well with breast volumes measured using MRI. Additionally, breast volumes remain comparable despite being measured in different body positions (standing and prone) in a young cohort of AIS patients. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV.