Ultrasonic multifeature maps of liver based on an amplitude loss technique and a conventional B-scan.

Abstract

Recently, a novel ultrasonic amplitude loss technique for creating images of local tissue attenuation was presented. Based on this algorithm, global attenuation estimates were calculated and consistent variations of the estimated attenuation value was observed for different liver pathologies. With the exception of Hodgkin's and acute inflammatory liver disease, the detectability of the disease states was not increased by the global attenuation estimates. In an attempt to do so, pseudo-color maps were used in this study. The conventional B-scan was presented as a grey-scale image and a color-code attribute was based on the local attenuation estimate. In the vicinity of strong reflectors we noted a typical artifact. Modification of the classical physical model, describing the ultrasonic-tissue interaction, was observed to reduce the artifacts in the attenuation estimates; however, the detectability of disease states was not increased.