Interlaboratory comparison of backscatter coefficient estimates for tissue-mimicking phantoms

Janelle J. Anderson, Maria Teresa Herd, Michael R. King, Alexander Haak, Zachary T. Hafez, Jun Song, Michael L. Oelze, Ernest L. Madsen, James A. Zagzebski, William D. O'Brien, Timothy J. Hall

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

Abstract

Backscatter in ultrasound is a useful property for characterizing tissues and several groups have reported methods for estimating this property. However, previous inter-laboratory comparisons of backscatter coefficient (BSC) estimates have shown variability in BSC results, were only acquired over a relatively narrow frequency range, and lacked reference to any independent predictions from scattering theory. With highly variable results and no claim of a "right" answer, our goal was to compare Faran scattering theory predictions with cooperatively measured backscatter coefficients for low- and tissue-like attenuating phantoms containing glass spheres scatterers of different sizes for frequencies from 1 to 12 MHz. Backscatter coefficients were measured using two different planar reflector techniques at two laboratories for two groups of phantoms. The use of spherical glass scatterers with well-characterized size distributions allowed calculation of the expected backscatter coefficients using Faran's theory. Results showed excellent agreement between both labs' BSC measurements and with Faran's theory. Excellent agreement with the predictions of Faran's theory demonstrates the ability to accurately estimate both effective scatterer size and acoustic concentrations, all of which may prove useful parameters for clinical diagnostic applications in tissue characterization. (Supported by NIH/NCI R01CA111289.)

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publication2009 IEEE International Ultrasonics Symposium and Short Courses, IUS 2009
PublisherInstitute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.
Pages1950-1953
Number of pages4
ISBN (Print)9781424443895
DOIs
StatePublished - 2009
Event2009 IEEE International Ultrasonics Symposium, IUS 2009 - Rome, Italy
Duration: Sep 20 2009Sep 23 2009

Publication series

NameProceedings - IEEE Ultrasonics Symposium
ISSN (Print)1051-0117

Other

Other2009 IEEE International Ultrasonics Symposium, IUS 2009
Country/TerritoryItaly
CityRome
Period9/20/099/23/09

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Acoustics and Ultrasonics

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