Abstract
In this study, a computerized scheme for reconstructing three dimension (3D)-ultrasonography (US) of a breast mass using off-line B-mode two dimension (2D) dynamic US images obtained by conventional 2D equipment was developed. Two off-line 2D dynamic US images were obtained with two orthogonal directions for each mass. The z axis of reconstructed 3D-US of a breast mass was estimated by using a length of the mass on the orthogonal image. In order to verify whether the 3D-US reproduces the real form of a breast mass, the correlation between two image features (volume and effective diameter of a mass), which were calculated from 3D-US, and visual assessment reported by physicians were evaluated. For seventy-nine breast masses used in this study, estimated mass volumes obtained from 3D-US had a high correlation (R=0.925) with those obtained from diagnostic reports. In conclusion, it was suggested that our computerized scheme could reproduce the 3D form of breast masses with relatively small errors.
