title: Ultrasonic attenuation maps of liver based on a conventional B-scan and an amplitude loss technique.
abstract: The authors present a novel ultrasonic amplitude loss technique, using image processing techniques and designed for computation of local attenuation estimates. Three different estimation approaches were evaluated: the extended Prony, the maximum likelihood, and the least squares approaches. The latter two approaches were found to result in a much higher estimation error than that observed for the Prony method. The attenuation values in the normal population (49 subjects) were 0.44 +/- 0.03 dB/MHz/cm. Three hundred sixty-seven liver scans from 266 patients were evaluated. Hodgkin's lymphoma patients with liver involvement had attenuation values of 0.22 +/- 0.07 dB/MHz/cm. Low attenuation values also were observed for four patients with viral hepatitis (0.31 +/- 0.08 dB/MHz/cm). The detectability of other disease states was not increased by these global attenuation estimates; however, the results demonstrate possible potential uses for the proposed technique for the diagnosis of diffuse liver disease.
authors.affiliation: Advanced Technology Laboratories, Bothell, Washington 98041-3003.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Shmulewitz
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Heyman
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Walach
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ramot
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Itzchak
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000465:Algorithms; D005260:Female; D006689:Hodgkin Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D008099:Liver / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000556:secondary; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014463:Ultrasonography