Gray Level Histogram Width Research Articles

Ultrasonographic evaluation of fetal lung histogram versus lamellar body count in the prediction of fetal lung maturity

Objective: The current study aims to compare the ultrasonographic evaluation of fetal lung Gray-level histogram width (GLHW) ratio with an amniotic fluid lamellar body count (LBC) in the prediction of fetal lung maturity. Methods: A prospective cohort study was conducted at a tertiary University Hospital in the period between May 1, 2017 and March 31, 2018. The study included pregnant women with a single fetus at ≥37 weeks of gestation scheduled for delivery by elective cesarean section (CS). Ultrasound evaluation was performed for assessment of the fetal lung to liver GLHW ratio to predict lung maturity. Lamellar body count was determined from an amniotic fluid sample obtained via amniotomy during CS. The lamellar body count for this sample was measured using a hematology analyzer. These data were further compared to Apgar scores at 1 and 5 minutes after delivery to assess the condition of the newborn immediately after birth, the degree of respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) and the need for resuscitation. Results: One hundred twenty women and their neonates were included in the study. There was a statistically significant decrease in the levels of both GLHW and LBC among those neonates that showed distressed respiration after Apgar testing as compared with those who did not show similar distress, with p-value <0.001. The Receiver Operating Characteristic Curve (ROC) for LBC levels in the prediction of respiratory distress shows the best cutoff point for LBC was found at ≤20214/μL with a sensitivity of 100.0%, specificity of 75.47% and area under the curve (AUC) of 88.4%. The ROC curve for GLWH levels in the prediction of respiratory distress shows the best cutoff point for GLWH was found at ≤0.93 with sensitivity of 100.0%, specificity of 84.91% and AUC of 97.1%. Conclusions: Ultrasonographic evaluation of GLHW of the fetal lung and liver is a non-invasive, inexpensive and time-efficient test for prediction of fetal lung maturity that has higher sensitivity and specificity.

Gray Level Histogram Width Tissue Characterization

Purpose Proposal to study liver with gray level histogram width GLHW clinical ultrasound tissue characterization using usual B mode devices Materials Placental intervillous space fibrin deposit in fetal growth restriction FGR malignant neoplasia fetal brain immature fetal lung meconium stained amniotic fluid and healthy adult liver Methods Commercial ultrasound B mode histogram base width divided by full gray scale length was gray level histogram width GLHW and it was used to tissue characterization Results GLHW of ovarian cervical and endometrial malignancies were or higher Fibrin deposit in placental intervillous space was diagnosed with GLHW and treated with heparin administration to obtain normal neonate Fetal brain echo density immature fetal lung meconium stained amniotic fluid and healthy adult liver GLHW were studied with GLHW Helsinki declaration was followed Conclusion The GLHW objectively diagnosed ultrasound B mode image thus it would be applied even in adult human cases

Diagnosis of Ovarian Masses before and after Ultrasound Imaging and Tissue Characterization

A polycystic ovary case was diagnosed by subjective vaginal examination and reported in 1959. Real-time B-mode was common in 1980s, where ovarian masses were diagnosed objectively, while malignancy was diagnosed with image patterns of ovarian masses. Thus, ultrasonic tissue characterization was intended, while it needed particular computer and software, which made it unable to use in common clinic. Maeda intended to apply echogenicity histogram of common B-mode devices and created gray-level histogram width (GLHW) and reported in 1998, and Khaile applied it to the diagnosis of malignant ovarian masses. Mean GLHW of 5 connecting ROIs was significantly larger in malignant masses than benign, while the coefficient of variation (CV) of GLHWs was significantly smaller in malignancy than benign masses. Thus, malignant ovarian masses were diagnosed by GLHW analysis.

Tissue Characterization with Gray-level Histogram Width in Obstetrics and Gynecology

ABSTRACT Aim Clinical ultrasound tissue characterization, using usual B-mode devices. Materials and methods Malignant neoplasia in ovary, uterine cervix, and endometrium; placental intervillous space fibrin deposit; fetal growth restriction; fetal brain, fetal lung immaturity; meconium-stained amniotic fluid and healthy adult liver; Tissue was characterized by gray-level histogram width (GLHW) divided by full gray scale length. Results Malignant GLHW was higher than in benign one (it was malignant if the GLHW was 50% or more in ovary, uterine cervix, and endometrium). The GLHW of placental fibrin deposit was higher than normal placenta. It was reduced by heparin and normal neonate was obtained. Fetal brain echo density, immature fetal lung, and meconium-stained amniotic fluid were diagnosed by GLHW, and normal adult liver GLHW was studied. Helsinki declaration was followed. Conclusion The GLHW tissue characterization objectively diagnosed ultrasound B-mode image in obstetrics and gynecology; thus, it would also be applied in common adult human cases. How to cite this article Maeda K, Kihaile PE, Ito T, Utsu M, Yamamoto N, Serizawa M. Tissue Characterization with Gray-level Histogram Width in Obstetrics and Gynecology. Donald School J Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol 2017;11(1):7-10.

Ultrasonic Tissue Characterization with Common B-mode Device: GLHW

Medical ultrasound is superb in the real-time B-mode, transvaginal scan, 3-4D ultrasound, for the morphological examination and diagnosis. Only the Doppler ultrasound is unique in the functional study of blood flow and fetal movement. Although the advanced ultrasound detected the nature of tissue structure in the brightness, back scatter, texture and so on, the technique needed advance computer and programs, so that most ultrasound user are out of the benefit of tissue characterization, for example, ovarian malignancy is still diagnosed by the B-mode patterns. Maeda searched for stable technique for the B-mode brightness and found the histogram of B-mode brightness, which was easily found in every B-mode machine. However, the mean gray level value changed when the sensitivity was controlled, the contrast of B-mode image changed, and when the subject depth was changed, in the studies with an ultrasound phantom in around 1990. The author then studied the standardization of histogram, and found the histogram base width was stable to the sensitivity control. Then the histogram base width was standardized by dividing with full length of the brightness, and the gray level histogram width (GLHW) value was completed. As the GLHW was not influenced by the sensitivity control, but changed by image contrast, the contrast level was fixed at 2 among multiple levels. The GLHW was stable among various B-mode devices, but a machine was tested using the ultrasound phantom. Now the GLHW could be applied for the tissue characterization with common B-mode machine without special computer or program [1]. The region of interest (ROI) of subject image was 1x1cm in the trial study, but found the ROI size did not influence on the results. Automatic determination was investigated and confirmed no difference to the manual determination. The automation was introduced into the histogram analysis of Aloka B-mode machine, which was expressed by

Non-invasive Techniques of Fetal Diagnosis and Therapy in Perinatal Medicine

Aims: Invasive techniques in fetal diagnosis and therapy are gradually changing to noninvasive methods, which would be presented in this article as well. Methods: Noninvasive methods in fetal diagnosis are reviewed. Results: External ultrasonic Doppler autocorrelation fetal monitor; ultrasonic Doppler fetal actocardiogram; ultrasonic 2D, 3D, 4D imaging methods, pulsed Doppler blood flow record, color and power Doppler flow mappings, gray level histogram width method in the prediction of neonatal RDS in preterm fetal lung; other tissue characterization techniques and recent noninvasive prenatal test (NIPT) in fetal diagnoses, high intensity focused ultrasound ablation for the TRAP sequence in monochorionic twins in fetal therapy were presented. Conclusion: Noninvasive methods were introduced to fetal studies to perform fetal diagnosis and therapy safely

Noninvasive Fetal Lung Maturity Prediction Based on Ultrasonic Gray Level Histogram Width

The aim of this work was to noninvasively predict fetal lung immaturity with the ultrasonic gray level histogram width (GLHW), a form of clinical tissue characterization. The study included 22 fetuses in which infant respiratory distress syndrome (IRDS) developed post-delivery, and 25 fetuses without IRDS development. Independent receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis of fetal lung-to-liver GLHW ratios, fetal weights, gestational ages and the product of GLHW ratios by gestational ages for this cohort indicated that optimal thresholds for these parameters to differentiate immature from mature were 0.94, 1.750 g, 31 weeks and 29, respectively. With the optimal decision threshold of 0.94, the GLHW ratio provided sensitivity and specificity of 0.86 and 0.72, respectively. The corresponding values for gestational age were 0.77 and 0.68, 0.77 and 0.60 for fetal weight versus 0.96 and 0.72 for the product of GLHW ratio by fetal age, which was comparable with invasive amniotic fluid tests. The areas under the ROC curve for these parameters were 0.82, 0.82, 0.70 and 0.91. We found that GLHW is a noninvasive, stable and reliable measure of fetal lung maturity using commercial scanners. (E-mail: serizawa@hmedc.or.jp)

Tissue characterization of uterine myometrium using the ultrasound gray-level histogram width

The purpose of this study was to clarify the usefulness of the gray-level histogram width for tissue characterization of the uterine myometrium. Thirty-five patients with uterine fibroids, 5 patients with adenomyosis, and 9 patients with extensive myometrial invasion by endometrial carcinoma were studied. The gray-level histogram width was determined by transvaginal ultrasonography. The Mann-Whitney U test was used for statistical analysis. Receiver operating characteristic curves were generated for use in tissue characterization. Significant differences in the gray-level histogram width were found between normal myometrium (54.2% ± 4.2%) and carcinoma (58.2% ± 3.9%), normal myometrium and fibroid (64.3% ± 5.2%), and carcinoma and fibroid. However, it was difficult to identify adenomyosis. The cutoff values to distinguish normal myometrium from carcinoma, normal myometrium from fibroid, and carcinoma from fibroid are 56, 58, and 64, respectively. The gray-level histogram width is useful for tissue characterization of the uterine myometrium.

Ultrasound tissue characterization with the gray level histogram width of the B-mode

Ultrasound tissue characterization with the gray level histogram width of the B-mode

Ultrasound tissue characterization with the gray level histogram width of the B-mode

AbstractObjectives. We investigated fetal lung immaturity, fetal brain periventricular echodensity (PVE) and other problems related to changes in fetal tissue by non-invasive ultrasound tissue characterization, using a commonly available real-time B-mode ultrasound machine.Methods. Histograms of a region of interest (ROI) were displayed on a B-mode screen. The base length of a histogram divided by the full gray-scale length gave the gray level histogram width (GLHW); this value is insensitive to changes in B-mode model, device gain or image depth. Any variation in the magnitude of GLHW in high-contrast images was easily corrected. Fetal lung immaturity was suspected when the fetal lung GLHW was less than that of normal fetal lung and fetal liver after 30 weeks of pregnancy. The GLHW values of fetal brain PVE were also compared to those of normal fetal brain.Results. GLHW values were compared between the “mature fetal lung” and the “immature fetal lung” groups, as determined by the stable microbubble test:...

Clinical tissue characterization with gray level histogram width in obstetrics and gynecology

Clinical tissue characterization with gray level histogram width in obstetrics and gynecology

Clinical tissue characterization with gray level histogram width in obstetrics and gynecology

ABSTRACTGray level histogram width (GLHW) is reproducible in various commercial real-time scanners that incorporate a histogram function. The GLHW is not influenced by changes in ultrasonic equipment device gain, sensitive time control (STC) or depth of the region of interest. GLHW is a standardized and reproducible index. High scanner contrast increases the GLHW value, but it is easily calibrated by means of a small factor. GLHW is appropriate in obstetrics for study of the placenta, fetal brain and meconium-stained fluid with significant results, and fetal lung maturity is estimated using GLHW of the fetal lung. In gynecology, ovarian masses, and endometrial hyperplasia and malignancy, can be studied using the GLHW, and a significantly larger GLHW is obtained in malignancy. The GLHW can be further applied in general medicine, including assessment of the adult liver.

Tissue characterization with gray level histogram width and assessment of fetal lung immaturity

Purpose: The aims are to clarify the reproducibility of gray level histogram width (GLHW) in ultrasound machines and to demonstrate tissue character of fetal organs and tissues in B‐mode image.Methods: The GLHW is calculated manually and automatically with the ROM provided by Aloka, and the values are compared among six Aloka, each one of Toshiba, Yokogawa and Kretz 503D wuth use of RMI phantoms. Clinically, the placenta, fetal brain periventricular echodensity (PVE), fetal lung and liver, those of preterm fetuses with the refernece to stable microbubbles of amniotic fluid, and meconium stained amniotic fluid are studied.Results: No influence of clinical gain control, image depth, STC, 1 cm2 or more ROI or 1000 or more pixels is confirmed. GLHW is large in high image contrast, but it is easily compensated. Some own values are corrected and standardized. GLHW is reproducible among machines. Clinically, GLHW is large in grade III placenta, the value is large in fetal brain PVE and it is large in meconium stained fluid. Normal fetal lung GLHW is low and lower than fetal liver before 30 weeks of pregnancy, fetal GLHW is 31% or less in the group of five or less stable microbubbles with 90% sensitivity and 80% specificity. In gynecology, GLHW is high and coefficient of variation is low in multiple ROIs of ovarian malignancy. GLHW is large in hyperplastic endometrium. Adult organs and tissues are of interest particularly in hepatic diseases.Conclusion: GLHW is reproducible in ultrasound machines, and it is useful in tissue characterization. It is possible to assess fetal lung immaturity with GLHW.

P19Evaluation of fetal lung maturity by the gray level histogram width

Maeda has normalized gray level histogram width (GLHW) of fetal lung and liver. The fetal lung GLHW was less than 30% and smaller than the liver in 24–29 weeks. However the fetal lung GLHW was similar to the liver and over 30% after 30 weeks. We suggest this change of GLHW have relation to fetal lung maturity.MethodThe histogram was described with Aloka SSD‐1200, the 1250pixels were set at fetal lung and liver. GLHW is obtained by the histogram base length is divided by the full gray scale length. The 10 fetuses lung and liver were recorded in 24–31 weeks, and amniotic fluid samplings by transvaginal or amniocentesis were examined microbubble test. They were delivered during 1–3 days later, we diagnosed RDS or nonRDS by clinically.ResultThe GLHW of fetal lung/liver was 32.45/34.03 in 5 fetuses less than 10 microbubble rate and nonRDS (Group 1), no significant difference. The GLHW of fetal lung/liver was 30.23/34.44 in 5 fetuses over 10 microbubble rate and RDS (Group 2), significant difference (PÅÅ0.016). The fetal lung GLHW was no significant difference in group 1 and 2 (32.45/30.23) (P = 0.064), however, in the over 30 fetal lung GLHW, 5 were nonRDS and 2 were RDS, in less than 30 fetal lung GLHW, all are RDS, significant difference (P = 0.04).ConclusionThe fetus of fetal lung GLHW is smaller than liver and less than 30 is almost RDS, the case of fetal lung GLHW is larger than liver and over 30 is almost nonRDS.

Influence of topography and specimen preparation on backscattered electron images of bone.

Backscattered electron (BSE) images of bone exhibit graylevel contrast between adjacent lamellae. Mathematical models suggest that interlamellar contrast in BSE images is an artifact due to topographic irregularities. However, little experimental evidence has been published to support these models, and it is not clear whether submicron topographical features will alter BSE graylevels. The goal of this study was to determine the effects of topography on BSE image mean graylevels and graylevel histogram widths using conventional specimen preparation techniques. White-light interferometry and quantitative BSE imaging were used to investigate the relationship between the BSE signal and specimen roughness. Backscattered electron image graylevel histogram widths correlated highly with surface roughness in rough preparations of homogeneous materials. The relationship between BSE histogram width and surface roughness was specimen dependent. Specimen topography coincided with the lamellar patterns within the bone tissue. Diamond micromilling reduced average surface roughness when compared with manual polishing techniques but did not significantly affect BSE graylevel histogram width. The study suggests that topography is a confounding factor in quantitative BSE analysis of bone. However, there is little quantitative difference between low-to-moderate magnification BSE images of bone specimens prepared by conventional polishing or diamond micromilling.