Statistics of ultrasonic scatterer size estimation with a reference phantom.
A theoretical expression for the variance of scatterer size estimates is derived for a modified least squares size estimator used in conjunction with a reference phantom method for backscatter coefficient measurement. A Gaussian spatial autocorrelation function is assumed. Simulations and phantom experiments were performed to verify the results for backscatter and size variances. The dependence of size estimate errors upon free experimental parameters is explored. Implications of the findings for the optimization of scatterer size estimation are discussed. The utility of scatterer size parametric imaging is examined through the signal to noise ratio comparison with standard ultrasonic B-mode imaging.
Gerig
Anthony
A
Department of Medical Physics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1300 University Avenue, Room 1530, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, USA. algerig@wisc.edu
Zagzebski
James
J
Varghese
Tomy
T
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D006801:Humans; D016018:Least-Squares Analysis; D008432:Mathematical Computing; D016011:Normal Distribution; D019047:Phantoms, Imaging; D012542:Scattering, Radiation; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*