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Vara G, Rustici A, Sechi A, Mosconi C, Lucidi V, Golfieri R. Texture Analysis on Ultrasound: The Effect of Time Gain Compensation on Histogram Metrics and Gray-Level Matrices. J Med Phys 2021; 45:249-255. [PMID: 33953501 PMCID: PMC8074715 DOI: 10.4103/jmp.jmp_82_20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2020] [Revised: 12/11/2020] [Accepted: 12/13/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Aims: Texture analysis (TA) is becoming an increasingly used tool in radiological research. Some papers have been published on its use in ultrasound (US), but the way in which the machine settings affect the features has not yet been fully explored. With this research, we analyze how the time gain compensation (TGC) influences the features of the gray-level matrices in the abdominal US setting. Subjects and Methods: We analyzed the images acquired from the hepatorenal acoustic window of a healthy 29-year-old volunteer acquired with different TGC settings. TA was carried out using the LifeX software. Results: Several both 1st and 2nd order gray-level matrices features showed a strong correlation with TGC settings. Conclusions: TGC settings must be accounted for when carrying out further TA studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulio Vara
- Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Arianna Rustici
- Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Andrea Sechi
- Department of Specialized, Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Division of Dermatology, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Cristina Mosconi
- Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Lucidi
- Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Rita Golfieri
- Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
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Gujral DM, Cheung WK, Shah BN, Chahal NS, Bhattacharyya S, Hooper J, Senior R, Tang MX, Harrington KJ, Nutting CM. Contrast enhancement of carotid adventitial vasa vasorum as a biomarker of radiation-induced atherosclerosis. Radiother Oncol 2016; 120:63-8. [PMID: 27370203 DOI: 10.1016/j.radonc.2016.06.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2015] [Revised: 06/15/2016] [Accepted: 06/18/2016] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Abnormal proliferation of adventitial vasa vasorum (vv) occurs early at sites of atherosclerosis and is thought to be an early biomarker of vascular damage. Contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) can detect this process. Its usefulness in irradiated arteries as a measure of accelerated atherosclerosis is unknown. This study investigates contrast intensity in carotid adventitia as an early marker of radiation-induced damage in head and neck cancer (HNC) patients. MATERIALS/METHODS Patients with HNC treated with a wedged-pair and matched neck technique or hemi-neck radiotherapy (RT) (unirradiated side as control) at least 2years previously were included. Patients had been prescribed a dose of at least 50Gy to the neck. CEUS was performed on both carotid arteries and a region of interest was selected in the adventitia of the far wall of both left and right distal common carotid arteries. Novel quantification software was used to compare the average intensity per pixel between irradiated and unirradiated arteries. RESULTS 48 patients (34 males) with median age of 59.2years (interquartile range (IQR) 49.2-64.2) were included. The mean maximum point dose to the irradiated artery was 61.2Gy (IQR 52.6-61.8) and 1.1Gy (IQR 1.0-1.8Gy) to the unirradiated side. The median interval from RT was 59.4months (IQR 41-88.7). There was a significant difference in the mean (SD) contrast intensity per pixel on the irradiated side (1.1 (0.4)) versus 0.96 (0.34) on the unirradiated side (p=0.01). After attenuation correction, the difference in mean contrast intensity per pixel was still significant (1.4 (0.58) versus 1.2 (0.47) (p=0.02). Previous surgery or chemotherapy had no effect on the difference in contrast intensity between the 2 sides of the neck. Mean intensity per pixel did not correlate to traditional risk prediction models (carotid intima-medial thickness, QSTROKE score). CONCLUSIONS Proliferation of vv is demonstrated by increased contrast intensity in irradiated carotid arteries. This may be a useful, independent biomarker of radiation-induced carotid atherosclerosis when used as a tool to quantify neovascularization.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Benoy N Shah
- Department of Echocardiography, Royal Brompton Hospital, London, UK
| | - Navtej S Chahal
- Department of Echocardiography, Royal Brompton Hospital, London, UK
| | | | - James Hooper
- Department of Biochemistry, Royal Brompton Hospital, London, UK
| | - Roxy Senior
- Department of Echocardiography, Royal Brompton Hospital, London, UK
| | - Meng-Xing Tang
- Department of Bioengineering, Imperial College, London, UK
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Cheung WK, Gujral DM, Shah BN, Chahal NS, Bhattacharyya S, Cosgrove DO, Eckersley RJ, Harrington KJ, Senior R, Nutting CM, Tang MX. Attenuation Correction and Normalisation for Quantification of Contrast Enhancement in Ultrasound Images of Carotid Arteries. ULTRASOUND IN MEDICINE & BIOLOGY 2015; 41:1876-1883. [PMID: 25843515 DOI: 10.1016/j.ultrasmedbio.2015.02.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2014] [Revised: 12/15/2014] [Accepted: 02/21/2015] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
An automated attenuation correction and normalisation algorithm was developed to improve the quantification of contrast enhancement in ultrasound images of carotid arteries. The algorithm first corrects attenuation artefact and normalises intensity within the contrast agent-filled lumen and then extends the correction and normalisation to regions beyond the lumen. The algorithm was first validated on phantoms consisting of contrast agent-filled vessels embedded in tissue-mimicking materials of known attenuation. It was subsequently applied to in vivo contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) images of human carotid arteries. Both in vitro and in vivo results indicated significant reduction in the shadowing artefact and improved homogeneity within the carotid lumens after the correction. The error in quantification of microbubble contrast enhancement caused by attenuation on phantoms was reduced from 55% to 5% on average. In conclusion, the proposed method exhibited great potential in reducing attenuation artefact and improving quantification in contrast-enhanced ultrasound of carotid arteries.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Benoy N Shah
- Biomedical Research Unit, NHLI, Imperial College, London, UK
| | - Navtej S Chahal
- Biomedical Research Unit, NHLI, Imperial College, London, UK
| | | | | | | | | | - Roxy Senior
- Biomedical Research Unit, NHLI, Imperial College, London, UK
| | | | - Meng-Xing Tang
- Department of Bioengineering, Imperial College London, London, UK.
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Grasland-Mongrain P, Mari JM, Chapelon JY, Lafon C. Lorentz force electrical impedance tomography. Ing Rech Biomed 2013. [DOI: 10.1016/j.irbm.2013.08.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
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Varray F, Basset O, Tortoli P, Cachard C. CREANUIS: a non-linear radiofrequency ultrasound image simulator. ULTRASOUND IN MEDICINE & BIOLOGY 2013; 39:1915-1924. [PMID: 23859896 DOI: 10.1016/j.ultrasmedbio.2013.04.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2012] [Revised: 03/29/2013] [Accepted: 04/04/2013] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
Nonlinear ultrasound methods are widely used in clinical applications for tissue or contrast harmonic imaging. Accurate non-linear imaging simulation tools are required in research studies for the development of new methods. However, in existing simulators, the possible inhomogeneity of the coefficient of non-linearity, which is generally observed in tissue and in particular when contrast agents are involved, has not yet been implemented. This article describes a new ultrasound simulator, called CREANUIS, devoted to the computation of B-mode images where both linear and non-linear propagation in media is considered, with a possible inhomogeneous coefficient of non-linearity. The resulting fundamental images, based on a spatially variant and non-linear point spread function, are in accordance with those obtained through the reference linear FieldII simulator, with computation time reduced by a factor of at least 1.8. Non-linear images of media exhibiting inhomogeneous coefficients of non-linearity are also provided. The simulation software can be freely downloaded from our website.
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Affiliation(s)
- François Varray
- CREATIS, Université de Lyon, CNRS UMR 5220, Inserm U1044, Université Lyon 1, INSA-Lyon, Villeurbanne, France.
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Tang MX, Mulvana H, Gauthier T, Lim AKP, Cosgrove DO, Eckersley RJ, Stride E. Quantitative contrast-enhanced ultrasound imaging: a review of sources of variability. Interface Focus 2011; 1:520-39. [PMID: 22866229 PMCID: PMC3262271 DOI: 10.1098/rsfs.2011.0026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 189] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2011] [Accepted: 04/26/2011] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Ultrasound provides a valuable tool for medical diagnosis offering real-time imaging with excellent spatial resolution and low cost. The advent of microbubble contrast agents has provided the additional ability to obtain essential quantitative information relating to tissue vascularity, tissue perfusion and even endothelial wall function. This technique has shown great promise for diagnosis and monitoring in a wide range of clinical conditions such as cardiovascular diseases and cancer, with considerable potential benefits in terms of patient care. A key challenge of this technique, however, is the existence of significant variations in the imaging results, and the lack of understanding regarding their origin. The aim of this paper is to review the potential sources of variability in the quantification of tissue perfusion based on microbubble contrast-enhanced ultrasound images. These are divided into the following three categories: (i) factors relating to the scanner setting, which include transmission power, transmission focal depth, dynamic range, signal gain and transmission frequency, (ii) factors relating to the patient, which include body physical differences, physiological interaction of body with bubbles, propagation and attenuation through tissue, and tissue motion, and (iii) factors relating to the microbubbles, which include the type of bubbles and their stability, preparation and injection and dosage. It has been shown that the factors in all the three categories can significantly affect the imaging results and contribute to the variations observed. How these factors influence quantitative imaging is explained and possible methods for reducing such variations are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- M.-X. Tang
- Department of Bioengineering, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - H. Mulvana
- Imaging Sciences Department, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London W12 0HS, UK
| | - T. Gauthier
- Department of Experimental Medicine and Toxicology, Hammersmith Hospital, Imperial College London, London W12 0NN, UK
| | - A. K. P. Lim
- Hammersmith Hospital, MRC Clinical Sciences Centre, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London W12 0NN, UK
| | - D. O. Cosgrove
- Imaging Sciences Department, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London W12 0HS, UK
| | - R. J. Eckersley
- Imaging Sciences Department, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London W12 0HS, UK
| | - E. Stride
- Department Mechanical Engineering, University College London, London WC1E 7JE, UK
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Grenier N, Quaia E, Prasad PV, Juillard L. Radiology Imaging of Renal Structure and Function by Computed Tomography, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, and Ultrasound. Semin Nucl Med 2011; 41:45-60. [DOI: 10.1053/j.semnuclmed.2010.09.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
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Quaia E. Assessment of tissue perfusion by contrast-enhanced ultrasound. Eur Radiol 2010; 21:604-15. [PMID: 20927527 DOI: 10.1007/s00330-010-1965-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2010] [Revised: 08/13/2010] [Accepted: 08/17/2010] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) with microbubble contrast agents is a new imaging technique for quantifying tissue perfusion. CEUS presents several advantages over other imaging techniques in assessing tissue perfusion, including the use of microbubbles as blood-pool agents, portability, availability and absence of exposure to radiation or nuclear tracers. Dedicated software packages are necessary to quantify the echo-signal intensity and allow the calculation of the degree of tissue contrast enhancement based on the accurate distinction between microbubble backscatter signals and native tissue background. The measurement of organ transit time after microbubble injection and the analysis of tissue reperfusion kinetics represent the two fundamental methods for the assessment of tissue perfusion by CEUS. Transit time measurement has been shown to be feasible and has started to become accepted as a clinical tool, especially in the liver. The loudness of audio signals from spectral Doppler analysis is used to generate time-intensity curves to follow the wash-in and wash-out of the microbubble bolus. Tissue perfusion may be quantified also by analysing the replenishment kinetics of the volume of microbubbles after their destruction in the imaged slice. This allows to obtain semiquantitative parameters related to local tissue perfusion, especially in the heart, brain, and kidneys.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emilio Quaia
- Department of Radiology, Cattinara Hospital, University of Trieste, Strada di Fiume 447, Trieste, 34149, Italy.
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