Variation of acoustic attenuation coefficient slope estimates for in vivo liver.
Characterization of diffuse alcoholic disease is being attempted by estimating the slope of the acoustic attenuation coefficient with frequency, a parameter denoted by beta, from reflected ultrasound signals. The ultrasound signals reflected from within the body are distorted by the non-ideal properties of tissues. Two distorting mechanisms are considered: the propagation through nonhomogeneous media and the reflection from irregularly shaped interfaces. The mechanisms are modeled as random filters and their effect on estimating the value of beta are considered. The variances of three beta estimators are derived from the model. Clinical results on normals and patients with alcoholic liver disease are presented to verify the model.
D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology*; D008108:Liver Diseases, Alcoholic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D008433:Mathematics; D008954:Models, Biological; D014463:Ultrasonography