Vibro-elastography for visualization of the prostate region: method evaluation.
We show that vibro-elastography, an ultrasound-based method that creates images of tissue viscoelasticity contrast, can be used for visualization and segmentation of the prostate. We use MRI as the gold standard and show that VE images yield more accurate 3D volumes of the prostate gland than conventional B-mode imaging. Furthermore, we propose two novel measures characterizing the strength and continuity of edges in noisy images. These measures, as well as contrast to noise ratio, demonstrate the utility of VE as a prostate imaging modality. The results of our study show that in addition to mapping the visco-elastic properties of tissue, VE can play a central role in improving the anatomic visualization of the prostate region and become an integral component of interventional procedures such as brachytherapy.
Mahdavi
Seyedeh Sara
SS
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada. tims@ece.ubc.ca
Moradi
Mehdi
M
Wen
Xu
X
Morris
William J
WJ
Salcudean
Septimiu E
SE
D000465:Algorithms; D054459:Elasticity Imaging Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D011467:Prostate / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity