title: Benefits of tissue harmonic imaging in the evaluation of abdominal and pelvic lesions.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We compared tissue harmonic imaging (THI) and conventional ultrasonography to determine whether THI improves image quality and facilitates lesion characterization.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighty-nine various abdominal or pelvic lesions in 71 patients(34 men and 37 women; age range = 3-90 years, median age = 52 years) were evaluated with conventional ultrasonography and THI. Examinations were performed with frequencies of 2-5 MHz. All the images were stored on a hard disk and evaluated separately by three radiologists.
  
  
  RESULTS
  According to the interpreters, THI improved overall image quality in 67 (74%) to 76 (84%) and lesion characterization in 28 (31%) to 36 (40%) of 89 lesions when compared with conventional ultrasonography. All three observers agreed that image quality and lesion characterization were improved in 62% and 17% of the lesions, respectively. Lesion groups containing five or more lesions were compared for any difference of improvement in overall image quality and lesion characterization. For overall image quality, a significant difference was found ( p < 0.05). For lesion characterization, there was no significant difference between groups ( p > 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  THI improved overall image quality and lesion characterization.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Gazi University School of Medicine, 06510 Beşevler, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Yücel
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ozdemir
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Aşik
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Oner
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Işik
mesh_terms: D000005:Abdomen / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015588:Observer Variation; D010388:Pelvis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000379:methods