Automated B-line scoring on thoracic sonography

J Ultrasound Med. 2013 Dec;32(12):2185-90. doi: 10.7863/ultra.32.12.2185.

Abstract

With the proliferation of portable sonography and the increase in nontraditional users, there is an increased need for automated decision support to standardize results. We developed algorithms to evaluate the presence or absence of "B-lines" on thoracic sonography as a marker for interstitial fluid. Algorithm performance was compared against an average of scores from 2 expert clinical sonographers. On the set for algorithm development, 90% of the scores matched the average expert scores with differences of 1 or less. On the independent set, a perfect match was achieved. We believe that these are the first reported results in computerized B-line scoring.

Keywords: B-lines; diagnostic assistant; extravascular lung water; pulmonary edema; thoracic sonography.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Algorithms*
  • Dyspnea / diagnostic imaging*
  • Dyspnea / etiology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Image Enhancement / methods
  • Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / methods*
  • Lung Diseases / complications
  • Lung Diseases / diagnostic imaging*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Observer Variation
  • Pattern Recognition, Automated / methods*
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Single-Blind Method
  • Thorax / diagnostic imaging*
  • Ultrasonography / methods*
  • Young Adult