title: A feasibility study of novel ultrasonic tissue characterization for prostate-cancer diagnosis: 2D spectrum analysis of in vivo data with histology as gold standard.
abstract: This study demonstrates the feasibility of using a novel 2D spectrum ultrasonic tissue characterization (UTC) technique for prostate-cancer diagnosis. Normalized 2D spectra are computed by performing Fourier transforms along the range (beam) and the cross-range directions of the digital radio-frequency echo data, then dividing by a reference spectrum. This 2D spectrum method provides axial and lateral information of tissue microstructures, an improvement over the current 1D spectrum analysis which only provides axial information. A pilot study was conducted on four prostate-cancer patients who underwent radical prostatectomies. Cancerous and noncancerous regions of interest, identified through histology, were compared using four 2D spectral parameters: peak value and 3 dB width of the radially integrated spectral power (RISP), slope and intercept of the angularly integrated spectral power (AISP). For noncancerous and cancerous prostatic tissues, respectively, our investigation yielded 23 +/- 1 and 26 +/- 1 dB for peak value of RISP, 7.8 +/- 0.5 degrees and 7.6 +/- 0.6 degrees for 3 dB of RISP, -2.1 +/- 0.2 and -2.7 +/- 0.4 dB/MHz for slope of AISP, and 92 +/- 5 and 112 +/- 6 dB for intercept of AISP. Preliminary results indicated that 2D spectral UTC has the potential for identifying tumor-bearing regions within the prostate gland.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, USA. tliu34@emory.edu
authors.forename: Tian
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Mahesh M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Mansukhani
authors.forename: Mitchell C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Benson
authors.forename: Ronald
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ennis
authors.forename: Emi
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Yoshida
authors.forename: Peter B
authors.initials: PB
authors.lastname: Schiff
authors.forename: Pengpeng
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Gerald J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Kutcher
mesh_terms: D005240:Feasibility Studies; D006650:Histocompatibility Testing; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008297:Male; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D012015:Reference Standards; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards*