Method for making a heterogeneous breast phantom

A method of producing a heterogeneous breast phantom, comprising:

• casting a first composition comprising a polyvinyl alcohol and sugar to form a skin-shaped mold, thereby forming a skin mimicking segment;
• casting a second composition comprising beeswax to an adipose tissue-shaped mold, thereby forming a adipose tissue mimicking segment;
• casting a third composition comprising glycerol to a fibro-glandular tissue-shaped mold, thereby forming a fibro-glandular tissue mimicking segment;
• casting a fourth composition comprising sugar and egg whites to a pectoral muscle-shaped mold, thereby forming a pectoral muscle mimicking segment;
• casting a fifth composition comprising sugar to a carcinoma-shaped mold, thereby forming a carcinoma mimicking segment;
• arranging the segments to produce the heterogeneous breast phantom such that the phantom represents a breast tissue,
• wherein the heterogeneous breast phantom comprises:
• the skin mimicking segment, wherein the polyvinyl alcohol and the sugar are present in the skin mimicking segment in amounts of 4-6 wt % and 27-35 wt % respectively, each relative to a total weight of the skin mimicking segment;
• the adipose tissue mimicking segment, wherein the beeswax is present in the adipose tissue mimicking segment in an amount of 38-45 wt % relative to a total weight of the adipose tissue mimicking segment;
• the fibro-glandular tissue mimicking segment, wherein the glycerol is present in the fibro-glandular tissue mimicking segment in an amount of 10-15 wt % relative to a total weight of the fibro-glandular tissue mimicking segment;
• the pectoral muscle mimicking segment, wherein the sugar is present in the pectoral muscle mimicking segment in an amount of 22-28 wt %, and wherein the egg whites are present in an amount of 2-8 wt % relative to a total weight of the pectoral muscle mimicking segment, and
• the carcinoma mimicking segment that comprises a sugar selected from the group consisting of lactose, sucrose, mannitol, and sorbitol in an amount of 20-25 wt % relative to a total weight of the carcinoma mimicking segment;
• wherein each segment is shaped and arranged such that the heterogeneous breast phantom represents a breast tissue.