Ultrasonic spectral-parameter imaging of the prostate

Spectrum analysis of the radiofrequency echo signals highlighting of regions behind those structures. In cardiology obtained from ultrasonically scanning the prostate may provide inforand vascular medicine, additional information is derived from mation capable of distinguishing cancerous from noncancerous tisdisplays that show tissue motion or blood flow. sue. In American men, prostate cancer is the highest-incidence canThe present article describes advanced technology, termed cer and the second-highest cancer killer. It is diagnosed using ultraspectrum analysis, that exploits echo-signal information dissonically guided biopsies, which are limited by the low sensitivity and carded by conventional imaging methods. The use of ordinarily specificity of the guidance method. Spectrum analysis of the echo discarded information makes spectrum analysis potentially supesignals uses information that is discarded by conventional ultrasound rior to conventional ultrasonic imaging in terms of its ability to imaging technology. The inclusion of this information shows differdifferentiate among different states and types of tissue. ences between the ultrasound-scattering properties of cancerous and noncancerous prostate tissues. Spectrum analysis of ultrasonic echTissue typing and characterization based on spectrum analysis oes provides parameter values that can be related to scattering propgo beyond subjective image interpretation, and provide a quantierties of tissue and can be compared to database parameter value tative means of evaluation based on a diverse range of procedures ranges associated with cancerous and noncancerous tissues. Images firmly supported by a well-established theoretical framework can be generated to display parameter values, scatterer properties, [17–30]. or most likely tissue type. Results to date suggest that these differSpectrum analysis uses the phase and amplitude of echo sigences may be sufficient to improve biopsy guidance significantly and nals acquired prior to envelope detection. These signals are bipotherefore to improve the efficacy of biopsy-based diagnosis of lar and typically have a bandwidth commensurate with the nomiprostate cancer. q 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Imaging Syst Technol, nal center frequency of the ultrasonic instrument, e.g., a high8, 11–25, 1997 quality 5-MHz instrument might provide an adequate signal-to