[Ultrasonic tissue characterization using pattern analysis of backscattered signal. The first report--outline of the system].
Ultrasonic B-mode examination is widely used. However it is unsuitable for quantitative evaluation because of modification during the image processing procedure. The authors constructed amplitude images and mean frequency images using ultrasonic backscattered signals directly and judged the image patterns quantitatively by texture analysis. As the probabilistic distribution of amplitude is solved mathematically, we could evaluate amplitude images quantitatively, unlike B-mode images. We also used mean frequency images which display frequency information to compensate for B-mode image (also directly constructed amplitude images) constructed with only amplitude information. This work describes the outline of the system and results of some clinical applications. As application, the data were collected from testes of healthy young males and azoospermic patients. On B-mode images, no difference between these groups could be found. But there were differences on image appearance of amplitude and mean frequency images between them, and the difference was proved quantitatively using texture analysis. It is suggested that this system provides useful information about the differential diagnosis of diffuse disease of the organs showing so-called solid pattern.
Kodani
K
K
Department of Radiology, Tottori University, Faculty of Medicine.
D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009845:Oligospermia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D010363:Pattern Recognition, Automated; D013737:Testis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000379:methods*