Realistic biomechanical model of a cancerous breast for the registration of prone to supine deformations.

We develop a large deformations, Finite Elements biomechanical model of a stellate breast tumour, subject to prone to supine (MRI to US) breast deformations. Based on clinical findings, we introduce a volume of increased mammographic density/stiffness around a spiculated tumour, as well as a range of reported mechanical properties, both linear elastic and hyperelastic. This novel model demonstrates that these have a non-negligible effect on stresses and displacements, which, in turn, have implications, for example, in breast registration. We also show that the choice of material properties plays a dramatic effect on the mechanical variables.