Quantitative Estimation Method for Liver Fibrosis Based on Combination of Rayleigh Distributions

Since the clinical diagnosis based on ultrasonic B-mode images is dependent on the skill of the doctor, the realization of a quantitative diagnostic method using ultrasound echo signals is highly required. We have been investigating the quantitative diagnostic technique mainly on hepatic diseases. In this paper, we present a new analysis method using echo signals for the quantitative estimation of liver fibrosis. To quantitatively determine the stage of liver fibrosis, we propose a model in which the probability density function of echo amplitude is expressed as a combination of two Rayleigh distributions. These two Rayleigh distributions correspond to the echo components from the normal and diseased tissues. In addition, using this amplitude distribution model of echo amplitude, we present the estimation method to obtain the amount of fibrous tissue and stage of fibrotic degeneration of the liver from moments about mean of the echo amplitude. Basic examination using clinical images suggest that the quantitative estimation of liver fibrosis based on a combination of Rayleigh distributions is valid.