Inter-scale wavelet analysis for speckle reduction in thyroid ultrasound images

Comput Med Imaging Graph. 2007 Apr;31(3):117-27. doi: 10.1016/j.compmedimag.2006.11.006. Epub 2007 Feb 16.

Abstract

A wavelet-based method for speckle suppression in ultrasound images of the thyroid gland is introduced. The classification of image pixels as speckle or part of important image structures is accomplished within the framework of back-propagation tracking and singularity detection of wavelet transform modulus maxima, derived from inter-scale analysis. A comparative study with other de-speckling techniques, employing quantitative indices, demonstrated that our method achieved superior speckle reduction performance and edge preservation properties. Moreover, a questionnaire regarding qualitative imaging parameters, emanating from various visual observations, was employed by two experienced physicians in order to evaluate the algorithm's speckle suppression efficiency.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Algorithms
  • Greece
  • Humans
  • Image Enhancement / methods*
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Thyroid Gland / diagnostic imaging*
  • Ultrasonography