Aims and objectives
To evaluate the effectiveness of using electromagnetic trackingaugmentation in anexisting clinical practice ofbreast ultrasound through virtual mapping and automation to improve accuracy of target localization andavoid labeling errors while reducing scan time and operator variabilities.
As ultrasound becomes more widely accepted as a supplement to mammography for increased cancer detection,
the clinical need for efficiency and reproducibility becomes more apparent [1].
Standardization of imaging protocols and reporting are utilized,
and further warrants the adoption of well-defined imaging techniques.
The Anatomical Intelligence (AI) for Breast solution...
Methods and materials
The AI Breast solution on EPIQ Ultrasound (Philips Ultrasound Inc.),
was used with a standard ultrasound (US) probe (eL18-4 Linear PureWave Transducer,
Philips Ultrasound Inc.).
Supplemental components to support AI Breast include the Aurora Tabletop Field Generator and mattress (Northern Digital Inc.).
Patients are positioned the same as a routine breast ultrasound,
with their ipsilateral arm raised over their head.
A positioning aid is used to immobilize and flatten the breast parenchyma.
Efforts in immobilizing the breast tissue is essential for maintaining the system's calibration...
Results
The AI Breast proved to offer a reliable tool to accurately assess the location of the transducer and underlying target,
without a significant compromise in time for the initial registration.
The median time taken to perform the initial registration was 12 seconds,
across the study group.
Timing was heavily dependent on operator experience.
Theelectromagnetically tracked positional data was used to apply automatic annotations during the clinical exam.
Each clinical finding was annotated with laterality,
clock position,
and distance from the nipple (Figures 4,
5,
&...
Conclusion
Electromagnetic tracking of the probe providesvirtual mapping and real-time positional data to improveclinical efficiency and acquisition standardization.
The initial time investment to calibrate the system is insignificant.
Proper patient positioning,
and registration technique however,
is critical in obtaining an accurate registration throughout the exam.
With successful calibration,
integrating automation withpositional mapping reduces operator dependency and subjectivity,
leading to an improved accuracy of target localization.
The technical features allow for elimination of labelling errors and improvements in acquisition standardization for reproducibility,
while streamlining clinical exam workflow...
Personal information
B.N.
Bloch,
MD
Associate Professor of Radiology
Boston University Medical Center
Boston,
USA
M.
Horn,
BEng
Clinical Research Associate
Boston University Medical Center
Boston,
USA
D.
Kim,
BSc,
MRT
Senior Clinical Marketing Manager
PhilipsUltrasound
Toronto,
ON,
Canada
G.
Ng,
Ph.D.
Principal Scientist
Philips Ultrasound
Bothell,
USA
References
1.Wei-Wei Jiang,
Cheng Li,
An-Hua Li,
Yong-Ping Zheng.
A Semi-automated 3-D Annotation Method for Breast Ultrasound Imaging: System Development and Feasibility Study on Phantoms.
Utrasound in Medicine & Biology. 2014;40(2):434-446.
2.
Wei-Wei Jiang,
Cheng Li,
An-Hua Li,
Yong-Ping Zheng.
Clinical Evaluation of a 3-D Automatic Annotation Method for Breast Ultrasound Imaging.
Ultrasound in Medicine & Biology.
2016; 42(4):870-881.