Acousto-Mechanical Imaging for Breast Cancer Detection
Abstract
The underlying hypothesis of our study is that quantitative breast elasticity imaging is possible and provides unique information, which could increase the detection, characterization and monitoring of potentially malignant masses in the breast. The purpose of this study is to develop a new modality of medical imaging for surrogate palpation of deep lying breast lesions, namely Acousto-Mechanical Imaging, or AMI, capable of producing high-resolution images of elastic (Young's or shear) moduli. In our method, the evaluation of mechanical structure and properties of an object is accomplished via the synergy of the surface stress pattern measured by the force sensor array and the internal strain obtained by an ultrasound imager. Acousto-mechanical imaging, therefore, consists of three main components: evaluation of externally induced surface pressure and internal tissue motion; estimation of strain and stress tensor components; and reconstruction of the spatial distribution of the elastic modulus using displacement, strain and stress images. An ambitious research plan has been developed to address important engineering and clinical aspects of AMI. The overall program is designed to critically test the hypothesis that AMI can non-invasively detect and monitor breast lesions thus providing a valuable clinical tool for breast cancer diagnosis, monitoring and therapy.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 01, 2002
- Accession Number
- ADA413025
Entities
People
- Stanislav Y. Emelianov
Organizations
- University of Michigan