Quantitative Multifrequency Ultrasound Imaging Using Narrowband Pulsing for Tissue Characterization.

Area of Science:

• Medical Imaging
• Biophysics
• Quantitative Ultrasound

Background:

• Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is a growing health concern.
• Accurate, non-invasive diagnostic tools for MASLD are needed.
• Multifrequency ultrasound (MFUS) is an emerging quantitative imaging technique.

Purpose of the Study:

• To implement a MFUS acquisition sequence.
• To validate MFUS quantitative measurements using an animal model of MASLD.
• To assess MFUS for liver tissue characterization.

Main Methods:

• Acquired radiofrequency (RF) data using MFUS with 24 frequency-shifted pulses.
• Calculated MFUS gradient, ultrasound attenuation coefficient, and relative scatterer size (RSS).
• Validated in vitro with tissue-mimicking phantoms and in vivo with mice fed a standard or MCD diet.

Main Results:

• In vitro MFUS accurately estimated attenuation coefficients.
• MFUS demonstrated sensitivity to scatterer size and improved contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR).
• In vivo, MCD-fed mice showed increased attenuation and decreased RSS, consistent with MASLD.

Conclusions:

• MFUS imaging is sensitive to changes in attenuation and scatterer size.
• Preliminary preclinical results validate MFUS for liver tissue characterization in MASLD.
• MFUS is an innovative technique with potential for further optimization and application.