High-resolution quantitative whole-breast ultrasound: in vivo application using frequency-domain waveform tomography

Ultrasound tomography is a promising modality for breast imaging. Many current ultrasound tomography imaging algorithms are based on ray theory and assume a homogeneous background which is inaccurate for complex heterogeneous regions. They fail when the size of lesions approaches the wavelength of ultrasound used. Therefore, to accurately image small lesions, wave theory must be used in ultrasound imaging algorithms to properly handle the heterogeneous nature of breast tissue and the diffraction effects that it induces. Using frequency-domain ultrasound waveform tomography, we present sound speed reconstructions of both a tissue-mimicking breast phantom and in vivo data sets. Significant improvements in contrast and resolution are made upon the previous ray based methods. Where it might have been difficult to differentiate a high sound speed tumor from bulk breast parenchyma using ray based methods, waveform tomography improves the shape and margins of a tumor to help more accurately differentiate it from the bulk breast tissue. Waveform tomography sound speed imaging might improve the ability of finding lesions in very dense tissues, a difficult environment for mammography. By comparing the sound speed images produced by waveform tomography to MRI, we see that the complex structures in waveform tomography are consistent with those in MRI. The robustness of the method is established by reconstructing data acquired by two different ultrasound tomography prototypes.