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Sophia Zackrisson, MD, PhD. Photo.

Sophia Zackrisson

Manager

Sophia Zackrisson, MD, PhD. Photo.

Pressure distribution in mammography: compression of breasts with malignant tumor masses

Author

  • Daniel Förnvik
  • Magnus Dustler
  • Ingvar Andersson
  • Håkan Brorson
  • Pontus Timberg
  • Sophia Zackrisson
  • Anders Tingberg

Summary, in English

The pressure distribution over a compressed breast is in general heterogeneous. In this study we investigated the pressure distribution over compressed breasts with tumor masses. Twenty-two women either recalled for work-up of findings suspicious for breast cancer in the screening program or with clinically suspected findings were included in the study. Twenty-one lesions turned out to be malignant and one benign. The distribution of compression pressure was measured using thin FSR (Force Sensing Resistor) pressure sensors attached to the compression plate. The pressure over the breast was ascertained by acquiring an x-ray image of the compressed breast with the pressure sensors present. The pressure data and the mammogram were used to create a composite image with pressure data displayed as a color overlay. The malignant tumor area generally matched an elevated pressure area and this pressure was generally higher than the pressure over surrounding parenchyma. In 11 out of 22 (50%) subjects the maximum pressure over the breast was located over the tumor. Only 4 out of 22 (18%) masses had a lower tumor mean pressure compared to the mean pressure over the breast (including one small < 10 mm tumor and one benign structure). The results suggest that tumors are stiffer, thus, absorbing more pressure compared to the surrounding parenchyma and that this property can be quantified. Refined pressure techniques could possibly be used to demonstrate the relative elasticity distribution in breast tissue, which might provide valuable differential diagnostic information.

Department/s

  • Medical Radiation Physics, Malmö
  • Radiology Diagnostics, Malmö
  • Surgery

Publishing year

2013

Language

English

Pages

86684-86684

Publication/Series

Medical Imaging 2013: Physics of Medical Imaging

Volume

8668

Document type

Conference paper

Publisher

SPIE

Topic

  • Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Medical Imaging

Keywords

  • breast compression
  • mammography
  • pressure distribution
  • mechanical
  • imaging
  • elastic stiffness
  • stress/strain

Conference name

Conference on Medical Imaging - Physics of Medical Imaging, 2013

Conference date

2013-02-11 - 2013-02-14

Conference place

Lake Buena Vista, FL, United States

Status

Published

Research group

  • Medical Radiation Physics, Malmö
  • Radiology Diagnostics, Malmö
  • Surgery

ISBN/ISSN/Other

  • ISSN: 0277-786X
  • ISSN: 1996-756X