Determining the thermal characteristics of breast cancer based on high-resolution infrared imaging, 3D breast scans, and magnetic resonance imaging

• Published in: Scientific reports Vol. 10; no. 1; p. 10105
• Main Authors: Lozano, Adolfo, Hayes, Jody C., Compton, Lindsay M., Azarnoosh, Jamasp, Hassanipour, Fatemeh
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group UK 22.06.2020; Nature Publishing Group
• Subjects: 631/67/2321; 639/166/988; 692/699/67/1347; Adult; Breast - pathology; Breast cancer; Breast Neoplasms - diagnostic imaging; Breast Neoplasms - pathology; Computer applications; Computer Simulation; Female; Humanities and Social Sciences; Humans; Imaging, Three-Dimensional; Infrared imaging; Infrared Rays; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; multidisciplinary; Perfusion; Science; Science (multidisciplinary); Thermography - methods
• ISSN: 2045-2322; 2045-2322
• DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-66926-6

For over the three decades, various researchers have aimed to construct a thermal (or bioheat) model of breast cancer, but these models have mostly lacked clinical data. The present study developed a computational thermal model of breast cancer based on high-resolution infrared (IR) images, real three-dimensional (3D) breast surface geometries, and internal tumor definition of a female subject histologically diagnosed with breast cancer. A state-of-the-art IR camera recorded IR images of the subject’s breasts, a 3D scanner recorded surface geometries, and standard diagnostic imaging procedures provided tumor sizes and spatial locations within the breast. The study estimated the thermal characteristics of the subject’s triple negative breast cancer by calibrating the model to the subject’s clinical data. Constrained by empirical blood perfusion rates, metabolic heat generation rates reached as high as 2.0E04 W/m 3 for normal breast tissue and ranged between 1.0E05–1.2E06 W/m 3 for cancerous breast tissue. Results were specific to the subject’s unique breast cancer molecular subtype, stage, and lesion size and may be applicable to similar aggressive cases. Prior modeling efforts are briefly surveyed, clinical data collected are presented, and finally thermal modeling results are presented and discussed.