Quantitative ultrasound methods based on the backscatter coefficient (BSC) and envelope statistics have been used to quantify disease in a wide variety of tissues, such as prostate, lymph nodes, breast, and thyroid. However, to date, these methods have not been investigated in the lung. In this study, lung properties were quantified by BSC and envelope statistical parameters in normal, fibrotic, and edematous rat lungs in vivo. The average and standard deviation of each parameter were calculated for each lung as well as the evolution of each parameter with acoustic propagation time within the lung. The transport mean free path and backscattered frequency shift, two parameters that have been successfully used to assess pulmonary fibrosis and edema in prior work, were evaluated in combination with the BSC and envelope statistical parameters. Multiple BSC and envelope statistical parameters were found to provide contrast between control and diseased lungs. BSC and envelope statistical parameters were also significantly correlated with fibrosis severity using the modified Ashcroft fibrosis score as the histological gold standard. These results demonstrate the potential for BSC and envelope statistical parameters to improve the diagnosis of pulmonary fibrosis and edema as well as monitor pulmonary fibrosis.

中文翻译：

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使用反向散射系数和包膜统计对啮齿动物肺纤维化和水肿的体内评估

基于反向散射系数 (BSC) 和包络统计的定量超声方法已被用于量化各种组织中的疾病，例如前列腺、淋巴结、乳房和甲状腺。然而，迄今为止，这些方法尚未在肺中进行过研究。在本研究中，通过体内正常、纤维化和水肿大鼠肺的 BSC 和包膜统计参数量化肺特性. 计算每个肺的每个参数的平均值和标准偏差以及每个参数随肺内声传播时间的演变。运输平均自由程和反向散射频移，这两个参数在先前的工作中已成功用于评估肺纤维化和水肿，结合 BSC 和包络统计参数进行了评估。发现多个 BSC 和包膜统计参数提供对照和患病肺之间的对比。使用改良的 Ashcroft 纤维化评分作为组织学金标准，BSC 和包膜统计参数也与纤维化严重程度显着相关。