Medical elasticity imaging research

Recent studies have shown that the malignancy of tumours may be inferred from their stiffness or elasticity. Benign tumours in the breast tend to have a stiffness of about 50kPa-60kPa, whilst malignant tissue tends to be stiffer at about 90kPa-120kPa. Various methods of ultrasonic elastography (elasticity imaging) exist, using methods such as speckle tracking, 2-D kernel cross-correlation, and shear wave imaging. Typically, these look at the changes between successive B-mode ultrasound images whilst the tissue is undergoing mechanical compression.

Relevant publications:

• A. J. Constant and W. M. D. Wright, "Estimation of Tissue Elasticity by Image Processing of Simulated B-mode Ultrasound Images", Proc. Irish Signals and Systems Conference (ISSC 2009), Dublin, Ireland 10th-11th June 2009, in press (2009)