A virtual imaging framework for three-dimensional quantitative optoacoustic tomography using stochastic numerical breast phantoms

Optoacoustic tomography (OAT) is a promising modality for breast cancer diagnosis because tumor angiogenesis and, potentially, hypoxia can be visualized using quantitative OAT (qOAT) techniques. Clinically meaningful inference generally requires accurate image reconstruction, which depends on measurement quality and the imager design. Virtual imaging offers a cost-effective alternative to experimental prototyping for system design evaluation and supports computational method development. This work presents a comprehensive virtual imaging framework for breast qOAT, extending a stochastic numerical breast phantom (NBP) generator by incorporating skin tone variation and both benign and malignant lesions. It enables end-to-end simulation, modeling transducer spatial and acousto-electric impulse responses. Its utility is demonstrated through a case study comparing two system designs. A total of 1,020 NBPs and associated measurement data have been made publicly available to accelerate research in optoacoustic and optical imaging. The framework provides a versatile platform for advancing computational methods and guiding system design optimization.