Archives of Plastic Surgery (May 2013)
Magnetic Resonance Imaging-Based Volumetric Analysis and Its Relationship to Actual Breast Weight
Abstract
Background Preoperative volume assessment is useful in breast reconstruction. Magneticresonance imaging (MRI) and mammography are commonly available to reconstructivesurgeonsin the care of a patientwith breast cancer. Thisstudy aimed to verify the accuracy ofbreast volumemeasured byMRI, and to identify any factor affecting the relationship betweenmeasured breast volume and actual breast weight to derive a new model for accurate breastvolume estimation.Methods From January 2012 to January 2013, a retrospective review was performed on atotal of 101 breastsfrom 99 patientswho had undergone total mastectomy. The mastectomyspecimen weight was obtained for each breast. Mammographic and MRI data were used toestimate the volume and density. A standard statistical analysiswas performed.Results The mean mastectomy specimenweightwas 340.8 g (range, 95 to 795 g). The meanMRI-estimated volume was 322.2 mL3. When divided into three groups by the “differencepercentage value”, the underestimated group showed a significantly higher fibroglandularvolume, higher percent density, and included significantly more Breast Imaging, ReportingandData Systemmammographic density grade 4 breaststhan the other groups. We derived anew model considering both fibroglandulartissue volume and fattissue volume for accuratebreast volume estimation.Conclusions MRI-based breast volume assessment showed a significant correlation withactual breastweight; however, in the case of dense breasts,the reconstructive surgeon shouldnote thatthe mastectomy specimenweighttendsto overestimate the volume. We suggesteda newmodelfor accurate breast volume assessment considering fibroglandular and fattissuevolume.
