Contribution of an Ultrasound Tissue Characterization on Fetal and Neonatal Health

Abstract

Purpose: Objective ultrasonic B-mode image analysis in clinical ultrasound tissue characterization with echogenicity histogram in commercial B-mode devices. Materials: Placental intervillous space fibrin deposit, fetal growth restriction, malignant neoplasia, fetal brain echo density, fetal lung immaturity, meconium-stained amniotic fluid and adult liver. Methods: Commercial ultrasound B-mode histogram base width of a phantom divided by the full gray scale length was constant controlling B-mode gain; it was called gray level histogram width (GLHW) and used to tissue characterization. Image contrast should be lowest. Results: Fibrin deposit in placental intervillous space was diagnosed and treated with heparin to obtain normal neonate. Ovarian, cervical and endometrial malignancies were higher than 50% in GLHW. Fetal brain echo density and fetal lung immaturity were diagnosed. Meconium stained amniotic fluid GLHW was high. Adult liver GLHW will be studied in the future. Helsinki declaration was followed in the studies. Conclusion: The GLHW objectively diagnosed ultrasound B-mode image; thus, it should be widely used even in adult using commercial B-mode device.