Comparison of quantitative ultrasound parameters for fat content liver detection and monitoring

摘要

There are two generally used ultrasonic approaches to extract sets of quantitative parameters: the Lizzi-Feleppa (LF) and quantitative ultrasound (QUS) approaches. The LF approach estimates LF parameters from the linear fit of the backscatter coefficient (BSC), and yields slope, intercept and midband. The QUS approach relies on the attenuation coefficient (AC) and BSC versus frequency, and yields the mean AC and BSC over a defined bandwidth. By using the spherical Gaussian model, QUS-derived parameters are estimated: the effective scatterer diameter (ESD) and effective acoustic concentration (EAC). LF, QUS and QUS-derived parameters have been used for multiple applications. The goal is to examine which parameter(s) are better for estimating liver fat content, and distinguish between healthy and fatty livers.