Rib quality assessment using quantitative ultrasound imaging of bone

This feasibility study evaluated quantitative ultrasound imaging of bone (QUSIB) for non-ionizing assessment of rib quality in the context of breast cancer treatment. In silico, microcomputed tomography-based rib models simulated five-year of the effects of radiation and bisphosphonate therapy. Broadband ultrasound propagation (6-MHz center frequency, 128-element array) yielded backscatter and attenuation coefficients, which were related to structural and material parameters via univariate and partial least squares (PLS) regression analyses with 5-fold cross-validation. The strongest univariate correlations were observed for trabecular total bone volume fraction (BV/TV_tb) and cortical porosity with attenuation at 7-8 MHz. PLS models significantly predicted trabecular BV/TV_tb (R² = 0.50; p < 0.001) and cortical porosity (R² = 0.58; p < 0.001). Treatment-dependent spectral shifts in backscatter and attenuation coefficients confirmed sensitivity to pathological changes. In-vivo QUSIB measurements at the antero-lateral 4th-6th ribs and at the tibia midshaft in n = 10 healthy volunteers produced apparent integrated backscatter and attenuation values that closely matched in-silico distributions (p > 0.01) and did not differ significantly from tibia measurements. These results demonstrate that QUSIB backscatter biomarkers robustly reflect rib microstructure and treatment-induced alterations, supporting their potential for fracture-risk assessment in breast cancer patients.