Anisotropy of the backscatter coefficient of formalin-fixed ovine myocardium

Abstract

The objective of this study was to measure the backscatter coefficient of formalin-fixed myocardial tissue as a function of angle of insonification relative to the myocardial fiber direction. Backscatter measurements were performed on eight cylindrical formalin-fixed lamb myocardial specimens and compensated for attenuation and diffraction effects to determine the backscatter coefficient. The backscatter coefficient at 5 MHz was found to be maximum for insonification perpendicular to the predominant myofiber orientation and minimum for parallel insonification, with values of (17+/-14) and (1.2+/-0.7) x 10(-4) cm(-1) sr(-1) (mean+/-standard deviation), respectively.

Assessment of the Helical Ventricular Myocardial Band Using Standard Echocardiography

“…It is necessary to determine a rational means of segmental differentiation. Several investigations demonstrated that the echogenic reflection arises when insonification is perpendicular to the predominant myofiber orientation, and disappears for parallel insonification . Our study also showed that different acquisition angles had influence on the reflection.…”

Insights from echocardiography, magnetic resonance imaging, and microcomputed tomography relative to the mid‐myocardial left ventricular echogenic zone

“…Their work is in keeping with our notion that the intensity of the backscatter is increased when the cardiomyocytes are perpendicular to the direction of the ultrasonic beam . Their results also endorsed the findings of several earlier studies of both the heart and human tendons . The similarity between echocardiography, and structure tensor analysis from microcomputed tomography, and diffusion tensor imaging in our study reinforces this viewpoint.…”

Echocardiographic Tissue Characterization Demonstrates Differences in the Left and Right Sides of the Ventricular Septum

“…In addition, several studies from our Laboratory and others have demonstrated the profound effects of anisotropic myocardial structure can have on measured ultrasonic properties. (Baldwin et al 2006; Hoffmeister et al 1995; Madaras et al 1988; Marutyan et al 2006; Mottley and Miller 1988; Mottley and Miller 1990; Verdonk et al 1996; Verdonk et al 1992; Yang et al 2007) These anisotropic properties of the myocardium can greatly influence the observed apparent backscatter in echocardiographic images. (Aygen and Popp 1987; Holland et al 2005; Holland et al 1998; Recchia et al 1995)…”