Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Modelling Prone to Supine Breast Deformation
Under Gravity Loading Using Heterogeneous
Finite Element Models
Thiranja P. Babarenda Gamage, Richard Boyes, Vijayaraghavan Rajagopal,
Poul M.F. Nielsen, and Martyn P. Nash
Abstract Biomechanical models of the breast can be used to co-locate information
between the various medical images to identify tumour locations, while also
providing the ability to predict their locations during surgical procedures.
We have created subject-specific, heterogeneous 3D finite element (FE) models
of breast biomechanics to provide the ability to predict breast deformation under
different loading conditions. We have verified the applicability of such modelling
for simulating the prone to supine reorientation of the breast and obtained good
agreement to ground-truth supine images obtained from breast MRI. In particular,
we highlight the importance of modelling the pectoral muscles for gravity loading
simulations.
1
Introduction
Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death in females affecting one
in every ten women worldwide. Mammography, ultrasound imaging, and MRI are
the primary diagnostic tools; however, up to 15% of cancers are missed. Suspicious
lesions are referred for surgical biopsy or removal. During these imaging and
surgical procedures the breast is subject to different loading conditions, which
can lead to difficulties in localising tumours. Our aim was to use personalised
biomechanical models of the breast to co-locate information between different
medical images, while also providing the ability to predict tumour locations to
T.P. Babarenda Gamage (
*
) • R. Boyes • V. Rajagopal
Auckland Bioengineering Institute, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
e-mail:
psam012@aucklanduni.ac.nz
P.M.F. Nielsen • M.P. Nash
Auckland Bioengineering Institute, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
Department of Engineering Science, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
