We are pleased to announce the start of the research project "Evaluation of Spectral Ultrasound Methods for Staging Hepatic Steatosis in Humans with Morbid Obesity," funded by Prociencia under contract PE501087347-2024.
This project aims to address critical challenges in the field of medical imaging, particularly in the diagnosis and staging of fatty liver disease using quantitative ultrasound (QUS) techniques. While traditional imaging methods rely on the expertise of radiologists to detect abnormalities through visual inspection, QUS offers a more objective approach by modeling intrinsic tissue parameters, such as backscatter coefficient and H-scan parameters, which are linked to tissue microstructure.
Despite its promise, the field still faces unresolved issues, including the need for attenuation compensation in both backscatter and H-scan, the high variability in the joint estimation of backscatter and attenuation, and the absence of co-registered imaging of these parameters for liver fat assessment.
The primary objective of this study is to develop a functional prototype system capable of generating high-quality, co-registered images of backscatter coefficient and H-scan. This system aims to balance spatial resolution, accuracy, and precision. The project will use advanced models with total variation regularization for the joint estimation process, tested on in silico models, calibrated phantoms, and a pilot feasibility study in live human subjects to detect hepatic steatosis.
This research promises to advance the use of quantitative ultrasound in clinical settings, offering a new tool for the diagnosis and management of liver diseases.