Accuracy of Visual Scoring and Semi-Quantification of Ultrasound Strain Elastography – A Phantom Study

Jonathan Frederik Carlsen, Caroline Ewertsen, Adrian Săftoiu, Lars Lönn and Michael Bachmann Nielsen

PLOS ONE, 2014, vol. 9, issue 2, 1-8

Abstract: Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the performance of strain elastography in an elasticity phantom and to assess which factors influenced visual scoring, strain histograms and strain ratios. Furthermore this study aimed to evaluate the effect of observer experience on visual scorings. Materials and Methods: Two operators examined 20 targets of various stiffness and size (16.7 to 2.5 mm) in an elasticity phantom at a depth of 3.5 cm with a 5–18 MHz transducer. Two pre-settings were used yielding 80 scans. Eight evaluators, four experienced, four inexperienced, performed visual scorings. Cut-offs for semi-quantitative methods were established for prediction of target stiffness. Data was pooled in two categories allowing calculations of sensitivity and specificity. Statistical tests chi-square test and linear regression as relevant. Results: Strain ratios and strain histograms were superior to visual scorings of both experienced and inexperienced observers (p = 0.025, strain histograms vs. experienced observers, p

Date: 2014
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:plo:pone00:0088699

DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0088699

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