Intra-operative ultrasound hand-held strain imaging for the visualization of ablations produced in the liver with a toroidal HIFU transducer: first in vivo results

The use of hand-held ultrasound strain imaging for the intra-operative real-time visualization of HIFU (high-intensity focused ultrasound) ablations produced in the liver by a toroidal transducer was investigated. A linear 12 MHz ultrasound imaging probe was used to obtain radiofrequency signals. Us...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Physics in medicine & biology 2010-06, Vol.55 (11), p.3131-3144
Main Authors: Chenot, J, Melodelima, D, N'Djin, W A, Souchon, Rémi, Rivoire, M, Chapelon, J Y
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Acoustics
Algorithms
Animals
Bioengineering
Computer Simulation
Computers
Elasticity Imaging Techniques - methods
Engineering Sciences
Equipment Design
High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound Ablation - methods
Life Sciences
Liver - pathology
Mechanics
Physics
Swine
Time Factors
Transducers
Treatment Outcome
Ultrasonic Therapy - methods
Ultrasonography - methods
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Summary:The use of hand-held ultrasound strain imaging for the intra-operative real-time visualization of HIFU (high-intensity focused ultrasound) ablations produced in the liver by a toroidal transducer was investigated. A linear 12 MHz ultrasound imaging probe was used to obtain radiofrequency signals. Using a fast cross-correlation algorithm, strain images were calculated and displayed at 60 frames s(-1), allowing the use of hand-held strain imaging intra-operatively. Fourteen HIFU lesions were produced in four pigs. Intra-operative strain imaging of HIFU ablations in the liver was feasible owing to the high frame rate. The correlation between dimensions measured on gross pathology and dimensions measured on B-mode images and on strain images were R = 0.72 and R = 0.94 respectively. The contrast between ablated and non-ablated tissue was significantly higher (p < 0.05) in the strain images (22 dB) than in the B-mode images (9 dB). Strain images allowed equivalent or improved definition of ablated regions when compared with B-mode images. Real-time intra-operative hand-held strain imaging seems to be a promising complement to conventional B-mode imaging for the guidance of HIFU ablations produced in the liver during an open procedure. These results support that hand-held strain imaging outperforms conventional B-mode ultrasound and could potentially be used for the assessment of thermal therapies.
ISSN:0031-9155
1361-6560
DOI:10.1088/0031-9155/55/11/010