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Objective To establish a method to characterize the size and density of the female breast based on three-dimensional images of breast cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT), and describe the breast characteristics of women in a region of China, and to explore its value in dosimetric assessment for breast CBCT examinees. Methods We retrospectively surveyed the breast CBCT images of 203 women in a grade A tertiary hospital in a southwestern city of China from January 2021 to March 2023. The effective diameter of the breast at the chest-wall (Deff), chest wall-to-nipple length (CNL), the effective diameter of the breast at half of CNL (Dh/2), breast volume (BV), glandular volume (GV), and volumetric breast density (VBD) were measured using the specific tools of the Koning Imaging Viewer system. The differences between groups were assessed using the Kruskal-Wallis H test. The correlation between variables was assessed using the Spearman’s correlation coefficient. Results The median values of Deff, Dh/2, CNL, BV, GV, and VBD of the surveyed population were 11.9 cm, 8.3 cm, 6.5 cm, 327.7 cm3, 47.0 cm3, and 15.4%, respectively. GV and VBD had significant negative correlations with age. Deff, Dh/2, CNL, and BV were significantly negatively correlated with VBD. Conclusion We established a quantitative method to analyze female breast characteristics based on three-dimensional breast CBCT images, and preliminarily characterized the female breast in a region of China, which can provide methodological support for the investigation of female breast characteristics in various regions of China in the future.
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Objective:To describe the distribution of volumetric breast density(VBD) in different ages of Chinese women based on X-ray mammograms.Methods:Based on mammographic images of 1 140 patients from January 2010 to December 2016 in a hospital in Beijing, the VBD of women was assessed by Volpara 1.5.1 and graded according to breast imaging reporting and data system published by American College of Radiology. The patients were divided into two groups according to the median age, and the two independent samples t-test was used to compare them. The patients were also divided into four groups according to age ( <40 years, 40-49 years, 50-59 years, ≥ 60 years), and the breast thickness, breast volume, glandular volume, and VBD were compared using a One-way ANOVA analysis. Results:The median age was 50 years. The compressed breast thickness and breast volume in patients over 50 years were significantly higher than those in patients below 50 years ( t= -8.99, -7.92, P<0.001), while glandular volume and VBD were significantly lower than those below 50 years ( t= 8.11, 18.49, P<0.001). The compressed breast thickness, breast volume, glandular volume, and VBD were statistically significant different among four groups ( F=27.10, 22.34, 25.70, 122.03, P<0.001). Patients over 60 years had the lowest VBD ( t=-12.56, -15.27, -4.57, P<0.001). VBD was negatively correlated with ages ( r=0.47, P<0.001). Conclusions:The compressed breast thickness and breast volume increased with ages, while the glandular volume and VBD decreased with ages.
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OBJECTIVE: To compare automated volumetric breast density measurement (VBDM) with radiologists' evaluations based on the Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System (BI-RADS), and to identify the factors associated with technical failure of VBDM. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this study, 1129 women aged 19-82 years who underwent mammography from December 2011 to January 2012 were included. Breast density evaluations by radiologists based on BI-RADS and by VBDM (Volpara Version 1.5.1) were compared. The agreement in interpreting breast density between radiologists and VBDM was determined based on four density grades (D1, D2, D3, and D4) and a binary classification of fatty (D1-2) vs. dense (D3-4) breast using kappa statistics. The association between technical failure of VBDM and patient age, total breast volume, fibroglandular tissue volume, history of partial mastectomy, the frequency of mass > 3 cm, and breast density was analyzed. RESULTS: The agreement between breast density evaluations by radiologists and VBDM was fair (k value = 0.26) when the four density grades (D1/D2/D3/D4) were used and moderate (k value = 0.47) for the binary classification (D1-2/D3-4). Twenty-seven women (2.4%) showed failure of VBDM. Small total breast volume, history of partial mastectomy, and high breast density were significantly associated with technical failure of VBDM (p = 0.001 to 0.015). CONCLUSION: There is fair or moderate agreement in breast density evaluation between radiologists and VBDM. Technical failure of VBDM may be related to small total breast volume, a history of partial mastectomy, and high breast density.