Experimental evaluation of spectral-based quantitative ultrasound imaging using plane wave compounding

Area of Science:

• Medical Imaging
• Biomedical Engineering
• Acoustics

Background:

• Quantitative ultrasound (QUS) using backscatter coefficient (BSC) estimation is valuable for tissue characterization.
• Plane wave compounding offers advantages in ultrasound imaging but hasn't been evaluated for BSC estimation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To experimentally evaluate plane wave compounding for quantitative ultrasound (QUS) backscatter coefficient (BSC) estimation.
• To compare QUS parameter estimation using plane wave compounding versus fixed focus and dynamic receive beamforming.

Main Methods:

• Utilized an ultrasound system with a 9-MHz transducer to collect data from gelatin phantoms.
• Estimated BSC midband fit and intercept using compound plane wave beamforming.
• Compared results with fixed focus and dynamic receive beamforming for precision and lateral resolution assessment.

Main Results:

• Plane wave compounding achieved accurate QUS estimation (BSC parameter bias < 2 dB) with consistent lateral resolution (1.0-1.5 mm) over a 45 mm field of view.
• Fixed focus and dynamic receive beamforming showed reduced field of view (28 mm) and degraded lateral resolution away from the focal depth.
• Plane wave compounding demonstrated superior performance compared to conventional methods, especially outside the focal zone.

Conclusions:

• Plane wave compounding is a viable and effective method for quantitative ultrasound (QUS) backscatter coefficient (BSC) estimation.
• This technique offers improved accuracy and a larger field of view for tissue characterization compared to traditional beamforming strategies.
• Plane wave compounding holds potential to advance spectral-based quantitative ultrasound imaging.