MEASUREMENT OF BREAST VOLUME WITH THERMOPLASTIC CASTS

A pilot study was carried through to assess the reproducibility of a n ew method of measuring breast volume. Twenty healthy female volunteers participated. A negative replica of the breast was made with thermopl astic cast material. The volume was measured by filling the cast with water until it reached two opposite points of the boundaries of the br east delineated on the cast. Three measurements were made of every cas t and the mean was calculated. The range of the three measurements exp ressed as a percentage of the mean volume was 2.9 (SD 1.6)%. Each volu nteer's breasts were measured twice with a brief intervening pause. Th e coefficient of variation between the two corresponding measurements was 6%.