A review of two alternative ultrasound quality assurance programmes

Dudley, N J; Griffith, K.; Houldsworth, G.; Holloway, M.; Dunn, Melissa S.

doi:10.1016/s0929-8266(00)00119-1

Cited by 49 publications

(45 citation statements)

References 6 publications

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“…THI considerably reduces the most frequent artifacts occurring in connection with CBMI [13,14] (the so-called side lobes, backscatter images due to lower frequencies of beams), and THI therefore clearly reduces reverberation artifacts, speckle artifacts and coherent wave interference, which can cause granular appearance of the homogeneous tissue thereby degrading the image contrast and resolution of anatomical details. Also clutter artifacts are reduced (i.e.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Critical US visibility with tissue harmonic imaging of subcutaneous nodules

Stella¹,

Ciampi²,

Melchiorre

et al. 2011

Journal of Ultrasound

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Introduction: Assessment of US ability to identify subcutaneous nodular lesions using conventional B mode imaging (CBMI) and tissue second harmonic imaging (THI). Materials and Methods: Three different types of equipment were used (Philips Envisor HDC, Philips HD 11 XE and GE Logic E) with 12e13 MHz probes and THI probes with variable frequency. One experienced operator studied 31 patients (24 women, 7 men, mean age 49 AE 15) with 52 subcutaneous nodular lesions of which 43 were palpable and 9 were nonpalpable. Statistical analysis was carried out using chi-square test. Results: 19/52 subcutaneous nodular lesions were hyperechoic, 10/52 were isoechoic and 23/ 52 were hypoechoic. Of the hyperechoic nodules, 8/19 (42%) (p < 0.005) were not detected using THI, as they "disappeared" when THI was activated. Of the isoechoic nodules only 1/ 10 was not detected using THI, and of the hypoechoic nodules only 2/23 were not detected. Of the nodular lesions detected using CBMI and also using THI (41/52), 16/41 were shown more clearly using THI than using BMCI. No nodule was detected with the exclusive use of THI. Conclusions: The statistical significance of the "disappearing" lesions (p < 0.005), mainly hyperechoic (42%), at the activation of THI must lead to a reconsideration of routine activation of THI during the entire US examination in the evaluation of subcutaneous lesions in order to avoid the risk of missing important lesions. The present results suggest that both BMCI and THI should be used in the study of subcutaneous lesions.Sommario Introduzione: È stata indagata la capacità di identificare con l'ecografia lesioni nodulari del sottocute sia con l'utilizzo dell'imaging convenzionale B mode (BMCI) che con la Tissutal Harmonic Imaging (THI). Materiali e Metodi: Sono state utilizzate tre apparecchiature (Philips Envisor HDC, Philips HD 11 XE, e GE Logic E) con sonde da 12e13 MHz e THI a frequenza variabile. Da unico operatore esperto sono stati studiati 31 pazienti (24F, 7 M, età 49 AE 15) con 52 lesioni nodulari del sottocute di cui 43 palpatoriamente evidenti e 9 non evidenti. È stato utilizzato il test del Chi Quadro per l'analisi statistica. Risultati: 19/52 lesioni nodulari del sottocute hanno presentato ecostruttura iperecogena, 10/ 52 isoecogena e 23/52 ipoecogena. Dei noduli iperecogeni, 8/19 (p < 0.005), 42%, non sono stati evidenziati con il THI, di fatto 'scomparendo' all'attivazione dell'armonica tissutale; degli isoecogeni solo uno non è stato individuato con il THI, e degli ipoecogeni solo 2/23. Delle lesioni nodulari evidenti anche con il THI (41/52) 16/41 erano evidenziate con maggiore nitidezza con l'utilizzo del THI vs BMCI (p < 0.002). Nessuna lesione nodulare è stata scoperta con l'utilizzo esclusivo della THI. Conclusioni: La significatività statistica della 'scomparsa' delle lesioni (p < 0.005) soprattutto iperecogene (il 42%) con l'utilizzo della seconda armonica (THI) porta a riconsiderare l'utilizzazione di un preset con THI inserito per tutta la durata dell'esame nella valutazione ...

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Critical US visibility with tissue harmonic imaging of subcutaneous nodules

Stella¹,

Ciampi²,

Melchiorre

et al. 2011

Journal of Ultrasound

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“…There are many methods and recommendations on how to carry out performance tests and quality control on ultrasound systems 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11. The transducer is a vital part of the system and handled daily.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…By monitoring the display, scan line dropouts can be detected. Another simple method of detecting reduced sensitivity of transducer elements is to analyze an image with the transducer held in air 7, 20, 21. Another known technique for detection of defective transducers is to move a linear transducer along the arm while viewing the dynamic image; it is easy for a human eye to detect vertical streaks in the image when the tissue is moving while the streaks are not.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Method for automatic detection of defective ultrasound linear array transducers based on uniformity assessment of clinical images — A case study

Lorentsson

Hosseini

Johansson

et al. 2018

J Applied Clin Med Phys

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The purpose of the present study was to test an idea of and describe a concept of a novel method of detecting defects related to horizontal nonuniformities in ultrasound equipment. The method is based on the analysis of ultrasound images collected directly from the clinical workflow. In total over 31000 images from three ultrasound scanners from two vendors were collected retrospectively from a database. An algorithm was developed and applied to the images, 150 at a time, for detection of systematic dark regions in the superficial part of the images. The result was compared with electrical measurements (FirstCall) of the transducers, performed at times when the transducers were known to be defective. The algorithm made similar detection of horizontal nonuniformities for images acquired at different time points over long periods of time. The results showed good subjective visual agreement with the available electrical measurements of the defective transducers, indicating a potential use of clinical images for early and automatic detection of defective transducers, as a complement to quality control.

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“…An alternative method [6] has been suggested to assess the imaging performance of transducers. This method relies on the assessment of the in-air reverberation pattern generated by a transducer.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Modelling and Numerical Simulations of In-Air Reverberation Images for Fault Detection in Medical Ultrasonic Transducers: A Feasibility Study

et al. 2015

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A simplified two-dimensional finite element model which simulates the in-air reverberation image produced by medical ultrasonic transducers has been developed. The model simulates a linear array consisting of 128 PZT-5A crystals, a tungsten-epoxy backing layer, an Araldite matching layer, and a Perspex lens layer. The thickness of the crystal layer is chosen to simulate pulses centered at 4 MHz. The model is used to investigate whether changes in the electromechanical properties of the individual transducer layers (backing layer, crystal layer, matching layer, and lens layer) have an effect on the simulated in-air reverberation image generated. Changes in the electromechanical properties are designed to simulate typical medical transducer faults such as crystal drop-out, lens delamination, and deterioration in piezoelectric efficiency. The simulations demonstrate that fault-related changes in transducer behaviour can be observed in the simulated in-air reverberation image pattern. This exploratory approach may help to provide insight into deterioration in transducer performance and help with early detection of faults.

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A review of two alternative ultrasound quality assurance programmes

Cited by 49 publications

References 6 publications

Critical US visibility with tissue harmonic imaging of subcutaneous nodules

Critical US visibility with tissue harmonic imaging of subcutaneous nodules

Method for automatic detection of defective ultrasound linear array transducers based on uniformity assessment of clinical images — A case study

Modelling and Numerical Simulations of In-Air Reverberation Images for Fault Detection in Medical Ultrasonic Transducers: A Feasibility Study

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