Ultrasonic tissue-type classification and imaging methods and apparatus

摘要

Clinical data, ultrasonic radio frequency (RF) backscatter spectral data and histological results of corresponding biopsy sites are stored in a database and are used to train a classifier suitable for real-time tissue classification and imaging. In clinical use, clinical data and ultrasonic RF backscatter data are applied as input variables to the trained classifier which assigns a likelihood of cancer (LOC) score to each pixel location in an ultrasound image. The LOC scores are then categorized by ranges, which can be established by user selected threshold values, to apply different colors or grey scale values distinguishing varying levels of suspicion (LOS) to each pixel position in real-time. This classification and display technique is especially valuable for guiding a person performing a needle biopsy of the prostate.