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Comparison of transabdominal ultrasound and electromagnetic transponders for prostate localization.
The aim of this study is to compare two methodologies of prostate localization in a large cohort of patients. Daily prostate localization using B-mode ultrasound has been performed at the Nebraska Medical Center since 2000. More recently, a technology using electromagnetic transponders implanted within the prostate was introduced into our clinic (Calypso(R)). With each technology, patients were localized initially using skin marks. Localization error distributions were determined from offsets between the initial setup positions and those determined by ultrasound or Calypso. Ultrasound localization data was summarized from 16619 imaging sessions spanning 7 years; Calypso localization data consists of 1524 fractions in 41 prostate patients treated in the course of a clinical trial at five institutions and 640 localizations from the first 16 patients treated with our clinical system. Ultrasound and Calypso patients treated between March and September 2007 at the Nebraska Medical Center were analyzed and compared, allowing a single institutional comparison of the two technologies. In this group of patients, the isocenter determined by ultrasound-based localization is on average 5.3 mm posterior to that determined by Calypso, while the systematic and random errors and PTV margins calculated from the ultrasound localizations were 3 - 4 times smaller than those calculated from the Calypso localizations. Our study finds that there are systematic differences between Calypso and ultrasound for prostate localization
Improving elevation resolution in phased-array inspections for NDT
The Phased Array Ultrasonic Technique (PAUT) offers great advantages over the conventional ultrasound technique (UT), particularly because of beam focusing, beam steering and electronic scanning capabilities. However, the 2D images obtained have usually low resolution in the direction perpendicular to the array elements, which limits the inspection quality of large components by mechanical scanning. This paper describes a novel approach to improve image quality in these situations, by combining three ultrasonic techniques: Phased Array with dynamic depth focusing in reception, Synthetic Aperture Focusing Technique (SAFT) and Phase Coherence Imaging (PCI). To be applied with conventional NDT arrays (1D and non-focused in elevation) a special mask to produce a wide beam in the movement direction was designed and analysed by simulation and experimentally. Then, the imaging algorithm is presented and validated by the inspection of test samples. The obtained images quality is comparable to that obtained with an equivalent matrix array, but using conventional NDT arrays and equipments, and implemented in real time.Fil: Brizuela, Jose David. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones CientÃficas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Camacho, J.. Consejo Superior de Investigaciones CientÃficas; EspañaFil: Cosarinsky, Guillermo Gerardo. Comisión Nacional de EnergÃa Atómica; ArgentinaFil: Iriarte, Juan Manuel. Comisión Nacional de EnergÃa Atómica; ArgentinaFil: Cruza, Jorge F.. Consejo Superior de Investigaciones CientÃficas; Españ
BiopSym: a simulator for enhanced learning of ultrasound-guided prostate biopsy
This paper describes a simulator of ultrasound-guided prostate biopsies for
cancer diagnosis. When performing biopsy series, the clinician has to move the
ultrasound probe and to mentally integrate the real-time bi-dimensional images
into a three-dimensional (3D) representation of the anatomical environment.
Such a 3D representation is necessary to sample regularly the prostate in order
to maximize the probability of detecting a cancer if any. To make the training
of young physicians easier and faster we developed a simulator that combines
images computed from three-dimensional ultrasound recorded data to haptic
feedback. The paper presents the first version of this simulator
Placental Flattening via Volumetric Parameterization
We present a volumetric mesh-based algorithm for flattening the placenta to a
canonical template to enable effective visualization of local anatomy and
function. Monitoring placental function in vivo promises to support pregnancy
assessment and to improve care outcomes. We aim to alleviate visualization and
interpretation challenges presented by the shape of the placenta when it is
attached to the curved uterine wall. To do so, we flatten the volumetric mesh
that captures placental shape to resemble the well-studied ex vivo shape. We
formulate our method as a map from the in vivo shape to a flattened template
that minimizes the symmetric Dirichlet energy to control distortion throughout
the volume. Local injectivity is enforced via constrained line search during
gradient descent. We evaluate the proposed method on 28 placenta shapes
extracted from MRI images in a clinical study of placental function. We achieve
sub-voxel accuracy in mapping the boundary of the placenta to the template
while successfully controlling distortion throughout the volume. We illustrate
how the resulting mapping of the placenta enhances visualization of placental
anatomy and function. Our code is freely available at
https://github.com/mabulnaga/placenta-flattening .Comment: MICCAI 201
Low-field magnetic resonance imaging and multislice computed tomography for the detection of cervical syringomyelia in dogs
Background: Syringomyelia (SM) is defined as the presence of fluid- containing cavities within the parenchyma of the spinal cord. Sagittal magnetic resonance (MR) images have been described as the preferred technique for visualizing SMin dogs and humans.
Objective: To investigate whether computed tomography (CT) can be used to diagnose SM.
Animals: Thirty- two client- owned dogs referred for investigation of the cervical spine on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and CT.
Methods: Two reviewers retrospectively analyzed sagittal and transverse T1- weighted spin echo (T1WSE) MR images and CT images from each dog for the presence of SM and, if SM was present, the width (mm, syrinx width [ SW]) was measured. The results were analyzed statistically.
Results: For the presence of SM there was a moderate interobserver agreement for MR (81%, j = 0.54) and almost perfect agreement for CT (94%, j = 0.87). There was a moderate intramodality agreement for both observers (observer 1 81%, j = 0.59; observer 2 81%, j = 0.57). For measurement of SW the repeatability was the best on the midsagittal T1WSE images (95% repeatability coefficient < 0.52 mm) and the reproducibility was the best on midsagittal images in both modalities (95% limits of agreement 0.55- 0.45; P = 0.002).
Conclusion and Clinical Importance: Both techniques can be used to detect SM. Midsagittal MR and CT images are best used for measuring SW. Computed tomography can be used as a diagnostic tool for SM when MRI is not available, but CT cannot replace MRI as the standard screening technique for the detection of SM in Cavalier King Charles Spaniel for breeding purposes
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