Design, development and characterization of cyst phantom for ultrasound elastography applications

Polyacrylamide based tissue mimicking phantom with embedded cysts is designed and analyzed for better understanding of cyst elastograms. Cysts filled with different fluids of varying density and bulk moduli are embedded in the phantom. Characterization is done based on parameters measured from the ultrasound B mode and elastogram of the cystic lesions. Such a phantom can serve as tool for better understanding of the elastographic appearance of cysts. Thus simple and complex cysts can be easily distinguished. It can also be used to teach a complex procedure like ultrasound guided fine needle aspiration.