Examination of the Spatial Correlation of Statistics Information in the Ultrasonic Echo from Diseased Liver

Abstract

To realize a quantitative diagnosis of liver cirrhosis, we have been analyzing the characteristics of echo amplitude in B-mode images. Realizing the distinction between liver diseases such as liver cirrhosis and chronic hepatitis is required in the field of medical ultrasonics. In this study, we examine the spatial correlation, with the coefficient of correlation between the frames and the amplitude characteristics of each frame, using the volumetric data of RF echo signals from normal and diseased liver. It is found that there is a relationship between the tissue structure of liver and the spatial correlation of echo information.

Comparison of ultrasound colored image views produced by application of statistical analysis of radio-frequency signals and histological findings in patients with chronic hepatitis C

“…On the other hand, a correlation between histological changes and acoustic characteristics has been reported in quantitative studies using statistical analysis of RF signal amplitude (a more objective method of evaluation) [11][12][13][14][15][16][17], but this correlation has not yet been made use of in clinical practice. One reason is the difficulty of linking the results of statistical analysis to findings from B-mode images.…”

“…The principle used for analysis in this study was based on the acoustical structure qualification (ASQ) method developed by Yamaguchi et al [11][12][13][14] for statistical analysis of the probability density function (PDF) of RF signal amplitude. The principle is briefly presented below.…”

“…In recent years, tissue characterization of the liver has been used as a simple, objective alternative to liver biopsy; this involves statistical analysis of the speckle signal from the liver parenchyma [11][12][13][14][15][16][17]. The results from these studies have revealed there is a correlation between histological changes and acoustic characteristics, although acoustic characteristics have not yet been applied in clinical practice.…”

“…This study was thus undertaken to establish an ultrasound method for evaluating liver tissue changes from a more clinical viewpoint. To this end, the speckle signal was analyzed by the method of Yamaguchi et al [11][12][13][14], and the findings thus obtained were compared with histopathological findings.…”

Proposal of a parametric imaging method for quantitative diagnosis of liver fibrosis

“…Our group also quantified liver fibrosis by analyzing the echo amplitude envelope [18][19][20][21][22][23][24]. Envelope statistics are often used for tissue characterization using ultrasound [13,15].…”