Three-dimensional ultrasound plaque characterization

Abstract

The chapter proposes a framework for extending the analysis of the atherosclerotic disease to a three-dimensional perspective. Different data acquisition systems, either based on a robotic arm setup or free-hand are proposed, in order to collect image sequences that completely describe the plaque anatomy. A 3D reconstruction method is proposed, comprising a Rayleigh based de-speckling approach and interpolation. As a consequence, 3D maps accounting for plaque echogenicity and texture, according to appropriate local Rayleigh estimators are obtained. Furthermore, the application of a segmentation approach which makes use of the Graph-cuts method, provides an efficient way to segment and locally identify unstable regions throughout the plaque. This information, complemented with a more accurate inspection of plaque morphology, may have an important clinical impact in disease diagnosis.