Breast Imaging with 3D Ultrasound Computer Tomography: Results of a First In-vivo Study in Comparison to MRI Images

Ultrasound Computer Tomography (USCT) is a promising modality for breast imaging. We developed and tested the first full 3D USCT system aimed at in-vivo imaging. It is based on approx. 2000 ultrasound transducers surrounding the breast within a water bath. From the acquired signal data, reflectivity, attenuation and sound speed images are reconstructed. In a first in-vivo study we imaged ten patients and compared them to MRI images. To overcome the considerably different breast positioning in both imaging methods, an image registration and image fusion based on biomechanical modeling of the buoyancy effect and surface-based refinement was applied. The resulting images are promising: compared with the MRI ground truth, similar tissue structures can be identified. While reflection images seem to image even small structures, sound speed imaging seems to be the best modality for detecting cancer. The registration of both imaging methods allows browsing the volume images side by side and enables recognition of correlating tissue structures. The first in-vivo study was successfully completed and encourages for a second in-vivo study with a considerably larger number of patients, which is currently ongoing.