title: Cross-imaging system comparison of backscatter coefficient estimates from a tissue-mimicking material.
abstract: A key step toward implementing quantitative ultrasound techniques in a clinical setting is demonstrating that parameters such as the ultrasonic backscatter coefficient (BSC) can be accurately estimated independent of the clinical imaging system used. In previous studies, agreement in BSC estimates for well characterized phantoms was demonstrated across different laboratory systems. The goal of this study was to compare the BSC estimates of a tissue mimicking sample measured using four clinical scanners, each providing RF echo data in the 1-15 MHz frequency range. The sample was previously described and characterized with single-element transducer systems. Using a reference phantom for analysis, excellent quantitative agreement was observed across the four array-based imaging systems for BSC estimates. Additionally, the estimates from data acquired with the clinical systems agreed with theoretical predictions and with estimates from laboratory measurements using single-element transducers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Physics, University of Wisconsin, 1111 Highland Avenue, Madison, Wisconsin 53705, USA.
authors.forename: Kibo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nam
authors.forename: Ivan M
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Rosado-Mendez
authors.forename: Lauren A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Wirtzfeld
authors.forename: Viksit
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.forename: Ernest L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Madsen
authors.forename: Goutam
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ghoshal
authors.forename: Alexander D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Pawlicki
authors.forename: Michael L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Oelze
authors.forename: Roberto J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Lavarello
authors.forename: Timothy A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Bigelow
authors.forename: James A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Zagzebski
authors.forename: William D
authors.initials: WD
authors.lastname: O'Brien
authors.forename: Timothy J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Hall
mesh_terms: D000362:Agar; D004867:Equipment Design; D005782:Gels; D005898:Glass; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D019047:Phantoms, Imaging; D012542:Scattering, Radiation; D012815:Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted; D014159:Transducers; D014465:Ultrasonics / Q000295:instrumentation*; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000295:instrumentation*
chemical_list: D005782:Gels; D000362:Agar