Purpose: Image acquisition using a 3D transducer recently is getting more frequently in sonography. We would like to evaluate the sensitivity of 3D image and examine the distortion with two different ultrasound systems through phantom study.
Materials and Methods: We measured the minimum thickness which is capable of being detected by 3D transducer with multiple phantom, and we calculated the distortion rate of the uptaken image according to the distance from transducer and direction of scanning.
Results: With 0.7mm, 1.4mm, 2.5mm, 3.0mm-thick-phantoms, ultrasound exams from 1.5cm distance and 5cm distance were done. From the near distance, 1.4mm-thick- phantom was visualized. Scanning 5cm apart from in the phantoms showed good discrimination of 2.5mm phantoms. The distortion rate of A and B ultrasound machines from 1.5cm distance were 1.48 and 1.37 respectively, the distortion rate at 3cm, 5cm of the two machines were as follows, at 3cm us(A):1.46, us(B):1.31, at 5cm us(A) 1.34, us(B) 1.29, and decreased when the distance increased. Scan direction also affect the distortion rate of the images.
Conclusion: Acquiring ultrasound image using a 3D transducer is a sensitive method to detect lesion which is tiny and superficial but it could bring some distortions on imaging, caused by the distance from transducer and direction of scanning. An examiner should consider those characteristics in order to make an accurate diagnosis.
|