University of Twente Student Theses

Login

Development in Size and Pigmentation of the Nipple-Areolar Complex during and after Pregnancy

Hoekstra, E.W. (2025) Development in Size and Pigmentation of the Nipple-Areolar Complex during and after Pregnancy.

[img] PDF
11MB
Abstract:Diffuse Optical Spectroscopy (DOS) research applied on the breast is promising to give more insight in the lactation physiology. However, DOS is influenced by pigmentation and size changes of the nipple-areolar complex (NAC) during and after pregnancy, which is vaguely described in literature. To give insight in these individual developments, an algorithm is developed and applied to create an overview over time of the individual NAC developments, throughout pregnancy, breastfeeding and weaning, using RGB images from the breast. The analysis protocol includes colour calibration with a ColorChecker Target, digital image segmentation with K-means clustering, and size analysis on the NAC’s inner half. The main findings of this study include a NAC pigmentation development in the L* value (CIELAB), which is in accordance with the expected NAC’s physiological developments. In addition, these developments are defined by the crossing of multiple ITA categories, which are related to optical skin properties. A variability in NAC size development between the participants has been observed, which underlines the uniqueness of each NAC. These results contribute to literature and DOS research on the breast, by now quantifying the NAC size and pigmentation developments, which can then be taken into account when interpreting DOS data.
Item Type:Essay (Bachelor)
Faculty:TNW: Science and Technology
Subject:42 biology, 44 medicine
Programme:Biomedical Technology BSc (56226)
Link to this item:https://purl.utwente.nl/essays/106296
Export this item as:BibTeX
EndNote
HTML Citation
Reference Manager

 

Repository Staff Only: item control page