Towards a more realistic biomechanical modelling of breast malignant tumours.

Journal article

We develop a biomechanical model of an isolated stellate breast tumour under mammographic compression forces for a range of reported mechanical properties, both linear elastic and hyperelastic. We also introduce different volumes of increased density/stiffness around the tumour as well as a solid pressure effect. We show that each of these issues--well known to clinicians but ignored to date in models--has a non-negligible effect on stresses and strains/deformations.

Authors: Wessel, C; Schnabel, J; Brady, M

• Publication status: Published
• Journal: Physics in medicine and biology
• Volume: 57
• Issue: 3
• Pages: 631-648
• Publication date: 2012-02-01
• DOI: 10.1088/0031-9155/57/3/631
• EISSN: 1361-6560
• ISSN: 0031-9155
• Language: English
• Keywords: Biomechanics; Mammography; Elasticity; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Humans; Finite Element Analysis; Breast; Models, Theoretical; Algorithms; Collagen; Models, Anatomic; Computer Simulation; Stress, Mechanical; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; Breast Neoplasms; Female; Diagnostic Imaging