Abstract
This article presents a new ultrasound transmission tomography reconstruction algorithm based on a isometric fan-shaped beam along the straight trajectory for an original breast ultrasound imaging system with the cylindrical motion of opposite linear arrays. The ultrasound computed tomography system and measurement scheme are described in detail. The reconstruction algorithm is derived. The numerical breast phantom model is built, including eight structures representing the adipose tissue, glandular tissue, cysts, fibroadenomas, cancer, and calcifications. Using one array as a transmitter and the other one as a receiver, the attenuation distribution in a medium interposed between them is reconstructed. However, limited angle tomography is usually plagued by artifacts along the depth of the image that cause shape distortion to be ellipses, which had an impact on the accurate judgment of the size and shape. B-mode ultrasound images are used as prior information to aid in improving the image quality of limited aperture reconstructions. Simulation results show that the number, location, size, and shape of cancer, cyst, fibroadenoma, and calcification in the numerical breast phantom are reconstructed. Moreover, the quantitative analysis of reconstructed images demonstrates that the reconstruction performance of the region of interest has been greatly improved, which verifies the feasibility of the algorithm using two opposite linear arrays. The reconstruction images are produced by the designed ultrasound tomography reconstruction algorithm, allowing the assessment of the morphology, orientation, internal structure, and margins of lesions in the breast tissue. The ability to create good attenuation images using the cylindrical motion of opposite linear arrays allows reconstructing the three-dimensional image for breast cancer detection and characterization studies.
Highlights
It is estimated that there were 18.1 × 106 new cases of cancer worldwide in 2018, of which the number of cases of breast cancer was 2.1 × 106, accounting for 11.6%
Limited angle tomography is usually plagued by artifacts along the depth of the image that cause shape distortion to be ellipses, which had an impact on the accurate judgment of the size and shape
The presented ultrasound transmission tomography reconstruction algorithm is designed for an original breast ultrasound imaging system with the cylindrical motion of four linear arrays
Summary
It is estimated that there were 18.1 × 106 new cases of cancer worldwide in 2018, of which the number of cases of breast cancer was 2.1 × 106, accounting for 11.6%. The mortality rate of breast cancer was 6.6%. Breast cancer has been the leading cause of cancer death in women.. The cancer mortality for the female breast cancer dropped 39% from 1989 to 2015, which was primarily the result of steady advances in early detection and treatment.. The early diagnosis of breast cancer is essential to ensure a high chance of survival for the affected women.. Mammography is widely used in the diagnosis of breast cancer, it may be subject to potential radiation hazard.. USCT is promising for meeting these requirements for breast cancer diagnosis.. There are only a few groups developing USCT systems for in vivo breast imaging..
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