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Quantification of Regional Breast Density in Four Quadrants Using 3D MRI-A Pilot Study
Peter T Fwu1, Jeon-Hor Chen2, Yifan Li1
1Center for Functional Onco-Imaging, Department of Radiological Sciences, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA.
Translational Oncology
|August 28, 2015
Summary
A new 3D MRI method divides breasts into four quadrants for quantitative breast volume and density measurements. Using the nipple-centroid line improves symmetry and standardization for density analysis.
Area of Science:
- Radiology and Medical Imaging
- Biomedical Engineering
Background:
- Accurate breast density measurement is crucial for breast cancer risk assessment.
- Standardized methods for regional breast density analysis are needed.
Purpose of the Study:
- To present a novel 3D magnetic resonance (MR)-based method for segmenting breasts into four quadrants.
- To quantitatively measure breast volume (BV) and density within each quadrant.
- To evaluate the symmetry of quadrant BV measurements between left and right breasts.
Main Methods:
- MR images from 58 healthy women were analyzed.
- A computer algorithm segmented breast and fibroglandular tissue.
- Breasts were divided into four quadrants using perpendicular planes intersecting at the nipple or nipple-centroid line.
- Quadrant BV, fibroglandular tissue volume, and percent density (PD) were calculated.
Main Results:
- The nipple-centroid line method yielded more symmetrical quadrant BVs compared to using the nipple alone.
- Improved correlation and agreement for BV in corresponding quadrants of left and right breasts were observed after nipple-centroid reorientation.
- Percent density was highest in the lower outer quadrant and lowest in the upper outer quadrant.
Conclusions:
- A quantitative method for four-quadrant breast division using 3D MR imaging was developed.
- Nipple-centroid line reorientation enhances inter-breast quadrant symmetry, offering a standardized approach for quantitative density measurement.
- This method may aid in investigating the association between regional breast density and cancer occurrence rates.
