Ultrasonic spectrum analysis for tissue evaluation

Spectrum analysis procedures have been developed to improve upon the diagnostic capabilities afforded by conventional ultrasonic images. These procedures analyze the frequency content of broadband, coherent echo signals returned from the body. They include calibration procedures to remove system artifacts and thereby provide quantitative measurements of tissue backscatter. Several independent spectral parameters have been used to establish databases for various organs; several investigations have shown that these parameters can be used with statistical classifiers to identify tissue type. Locally computed spectra have been used to generate sets of images displaying independent spectral parameters. Stained images have been derived by analyzing these parameter images with statistical classifiers and using color to denote tissue type (e.g., cancer). This report describes spectrum analysis procedures, discusses how measured parameters are related to physical tissue properties, and summarizes results describing estimator precision. It also presents illustrative clinical results showing how such procedures are being adapted to address specific clinical problems for a number of organs. This report indicates where further developments are needed and suggests how these techniques may improve image segmentation for three-dimensional displays and volumetric assays. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.