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Lorentsson R, Hosseini N, Aurell Y, Collin D, Frösing E, Szaro P, Månsson LG, Båth M. Investigation of the Impact of Defective Ultrasound Transducers on Clinical Image Quality in Grayscale 2-D Still Images. ULTRASOUND IN MEDICINE & BIOLOGY 2023; 49:2126-2133. [PMID: 37400301 DOI: 10.1016/j.ultrasmedbio.2023.06.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2023] [Revised: 05/17/2023] [Accepted: 06/05/2023] [Indexed: 07/05/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE There are several studies that show high defect rates of transducers in clinical use. The purpose of the present study was to investigate whether image quality and the risk for misdiagnosis is affected by using defective transducers. METHODS Four defective transducers with varying degrees of defect severity, still in clinical use, were selected. Forty artifact-affected clinical images from each transducer were compared with images acquired from fully functional transducers, of the same model, in an observer study where four experienced radiologists rated each of the 320 images. The rating tasks included if the artifacts were detectable, if the possible artifacts might affect the diagnosis, how well structural details were reproduced and, finally, an assessment of overall image quality. RESULTS The artifacts in the images were detectable for three of the four transducers (p < 0.05), and in 121 of 640 assessments of the images from the defective transducers the observers were confident that the artifacts could affect the diagnosis. All four faulty transducers were assessed to have decreased ability to resolve structural details (p < 0.05), and three of the four transducers were assessed to have worse overall image quality (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION The present study shows that image quality and the risk of misdiagnosis can be affected by using defective transducers. This highlights the importance of frequent quality control of the transducers to avoid decreased image quality and even misdiagnosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert Lorentsson
- Department of Medical Radiation Sciences, Institute of Clinical Sciences at Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden; Department of Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden.
| | - Nasser Hosseini
- Department of Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Ylva Aurell
- Department of Radiology, Institute of Clinical Sciences, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden; Department of Radiology, Region Västra Götaland, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - David Collin
- Department of Radiology, Sykehuset Innlandet, Tynset, Norway
| | - Eva Frösing
- Department of Radiology, Region Västra Götaland, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Pawel Szaro
- Department of Radiology, Institute of Clinical Sciences, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden; Department of Radiology, Region Västra Götaland, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Lars Gunnar Månsson
- Department of Medical Radiation Sciences, Institute of Clinical Sciences at Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden; Department of Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Magnus Båth
- Department of Medical Radiation Sciences, Institute of Clinical Sciences at Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden; Department of Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden
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Evaluation of an automatic method for detection of defects in linear and curvilinear ultrasound transducers. Phys Med 2021; 84:33-40. [PMID: 33836374 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmp.2021.03.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2020] [Revised: 03/18/2021] [Accepted: 03/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE The high incidence of defective ultrasound transducers in clinical practice has been shown in several studies. Recently, a novel method using only stored images for automatic detection of defective transducers was presented. The method makes it possible to remotely monitor many transducers at the same time and send a notification when a defective transducer is found. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the novel method and assess how well it performs when compared to an established method as reference. METHODS To evaluate the novel method, in-air images were collected from 81 transducers in radiologic departments in nine hospitals. Two observers assessed the in-air images and marked the defects. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC)- and alternative free response receiver operating characteristic (AFROC)-curves and their figures of merit (FOM) were calculated for the novel method, using marked defects in the in-air images as reference truth. RESULTS The area under the ROC curve was 0.88 (SD 0.06), and the AFROC FOM was 0.71 (SE 0.07). CONCLUSION The result shows that the novel method has a good agreement with the in-air method for detecting defects in ultrasound systems. This indicates that the novel method could be a complement to the normal quality control for early, and automatic detection of defects.
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