Effect of various parameters on the resolution potential behind obstructing fatty tissue in sonography

Abstract

Fat is one of the main disturbance factors in ultrasound. Experimental studies verify a deterioration of lateral and axial resolution with increasing thickness of overlapping fat. This is due to attenuation and phase distortion of ultrasound in fat. Experimental studies show a lesser deterioration of resolution behind fat (better results) with the following factors: large aperture transducers, compoundtechnique (the good axial resolution improves the wordes lateral resolution), great bandwidth of the ultrasound signal, compression of the fat and position of the fat in the focus of the transducer.