title: Species-Independent Modeling of High-Frequency Ultrasound Backscatter in Hyaline Cartilage.
abstract: Apparent integrated backscatter (AIB) is a common ultrasound parameter used to assess cartilage matrix degeneration. However, the specific contributions of chondrocytes, proteoglycan and collagen to AIB remain unknown. To reveal these relationships, this work examined biopsies and cross sections of human, ovine and bovine cartilage with 40-MHz ultrasound biomicroscopy. Site-matched estimates of collagen concentration, proteoglycan concentration, collagen orientation and cell number density were employed in quasi-least-squares linear regression analyses to model AIB. A positive correlation (R(2) = 0.51, p < 10(-4)) between AIB and a combination model of cell number density and collagen concentration was obtained for collagen orientations approximately perpendicular (>70°) to the sound beam direction. These findings indicate causal relationships between AIB and cartilage structural parameters and could aid in more sophisticated future interpretations of ultrasound backscatter.
authors.affiliation: Berlin-Brandenburg Center for Regenerative Therapies and Berlin-Brandenburg School for Regenerative Therapies, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Nils
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Männicke
authors.affiliation: Berlin-Brandenburg Center for Regenerative Therapies and Berlin-Brandenburg School for Regenerative Therapies, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schöne
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Physics, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland.
authors.forename: Jukka
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liukkonen
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Dominik
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Fachet
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Physics, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland.
authors.forename: Satu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Inkinen
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Physics, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland.
authors.forename: Markus K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Malo
authors.affiliation: Bioacoustics Research Laboratory, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, USA.
authors.forename: Michael L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Oelze
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Physics, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland; Diagnostic Imaging Center, Kuopio University Hospital, Kuopio, Finland.
authors.forename: Juha
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Töyräs
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Physics, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland.
authors.forename: Jukka S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Jurvelin
authors.affiliation: Berlin-Brandenburg Center for Regenerative Therapies and Berlin-Brandenburg School for Regenerative Therapies, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany. Electronic address: kay.raum@charite.de.
authors.forename: Kay
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Raum
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000818:Animals; D002102:Cadaver; D002417:Cattle; D006801:Humans; D051457:Hyaline Cartilage / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008875:Middle Aged; D012756:Sheep; D013045:Species Specificity; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000379:methods*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Apparent integrated backscatter; Backscatter; Backscatter coefficient; Cartilage; Osteoarthritis; Quantitative ultrasound; Ultrasound; Ultrasound spectroscopy