Ultrasound window-modulated compounding Nakagami imaging: Resolution improvement and computational acceleration for liver characterization

Hsiang-Yang Ma; Ying-Hsiu Lin; Chiao-Yin Wang; Chiung-Nien Chen; Ming-Chih Ho; Po-Hsiang Tsui

doi:10.1016/j.ultras.2016.04.011

Ultrasound window-modulated compounding Nakagami imaging: Resolution improvement and computational acceleration for liver characterization

Ultrasonics. 2016 Aug:70:18-28. doi: 10.1016/j.ultras.2016.04.011. Epub 2016 Apr 16.

Authors

Hsiang-Yang Ma¹, Ying-Hsiu Lin², Chiao-Yin Wang¹, Chiung-Nien Chen³, Ming-Chih Ho⁴, Po-Hsiang Tsui⁵

Affiliations

¹ Department of Medical Imaging and Radiological Sciences, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan; Graduate Institute of Clinical Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan.
² Department of Medical Imaging and Radiological Sciences, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan.
³ Department of Surgery, National Taiwan University Hospital and College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.
⁴ Department of Surgery, National Taiwan University Hospital and College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan. Electronic address: mcho1215@ntu.edu.tw.
⁵ Department of Medical Imaging and Radiological Sciences, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan; Institute for Radiological Research, Chang Gung University and Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Linkou, Taoyuan, Taiwan; Department of Medical Imaging and Intervention, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Linkou, Taoyuan, Taiwan. Electronic address: tsuiph@mail.cgu.edu.tw.

PMID: 27125557
DOI: 10.1016/j.ultras.2016.04.011

Abstract

Ultrasound Nakagami imaging is an attractive method for visualizing changes in envelope statistics. Window-modulated compounding (WMC) Nakagami imaging was reported to improve image smoothness. The sliding window technique is typically used for constructing ultrasound parametric and Nakagami images. Using a large window overlap ratio may improve the WMC Nakagami image resolution but reduces computational efficiency. Therefore, the objectives of this study include: (i) exploring the effects of the window overlap ratio on the resolution and smoothness of WMC Nakagami images; (ii) proposing a fast algorithm that is based on the convolution operator (FACO) to accelerate WMC Nakagami imaging. Computer simulations and preliminary clinical tests on liver fibrosis samples (n=48) were performed to validate the FACO-based WMC Nakagami imaging. The results demonstrated that the width of the autocorrelation function and the parameter distribution of the WMC Nakagami image reduce with the increase in the window overlap ratio. One-pixel shifting (i.e., sliding the window on the image data in steps of one pixel for parametric imaging) as the maximum overlap ratio significantly improves the WMC Nakagami image quality. Concurrently, the proposed FACO method combined with a computational platform that optimizes the matrix computation can accelerate WMC Nakagami imaging, allowing the detection of liver fibrosis-induced changes in envelope statistics. FACO-accelerated WMC Nakagami imaging is a new-generation Nakagami imaging technique with an improved image quality and fast computation.

Keywords: Envelope statistics; Fast Nakagami imaging; Liver fibrosis; Nakagami imaging.

Publication types

Evaluation Study
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Algorithms
Computer Simulation
Data Interpretation, Statistical
Humans
Image Enhancement / methods*
Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / methods*
Liver / diagnostic imaging*
Liver Cirrhosis / diagnostic imaging*
Models, Statistical*
Reproducibility of Results
Sensitivity and Specificity
Ultrasonography / methods*