Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 5, 2026

Tissue-simulating Phantoms for Assessing Potential Near-infrared Fluorescence Imaging Applications in Breast Cancer Surgery
Published on: September 19, 2014
Study of tissue compression in breast phantoms: possible implications for the use of X-ray mammography as a method of
D J Watmough1, K M Quan, R M Aspden
1Medical School, University of Aberdeen, Foresterhill, Scotland.
Abstract:
A method is described of constructing a simple phantom breast containing an idealised tumour with elastic properties. The transparent tissues are compressed and evidence is adduced to show that with tissue compression the tumour boundary is subjected to a degree of strain the magnitude of which is dependent on the degree of deformation. Excessive compression can lead to fracture of the tumour. A literature survey reveals that malignant tissues are more delicate than normal tissues. The study underlines the need for care when using X-ray mammography with compression to image a cancer bearing breast, in order to avoid disseminating cancer cells via the circulation.
Related Concept Videos
X-ray Imaging
Computed Tomography
The technique was invented in the 1970s and is based on the principle that as X-rays pass through the body, they are absorbed or reflected at different levels. In the technique, a patient lies on a motorized platform while a computerized axial tomography (CAT) scanner rotates...
Radiological Investigation I: X-ray and CT
Imaging Studies for Cardiovascular System III: X-Ray
Definition and Purpose
An X-ray, or radiograph, is a non-invasive method that uses ionizing radiation to take images of internal structures. It is mainly used in cardiac imaging to examine the heart, lungs, and major blood vessels, aiming to identify abnormalities in the heart's size, shape, and position, such as heart failure, congenital defects, and vascular...

