Abstract
Purpose
This preliminary study compared ultrasonography-computed tomography (US-CT) fusion imaging and conventional ultrasonography (US) for accuracy and time required for target identification using a combination of real phantoms and sets of digitally modified computed tomography (CT) images (digital/real hybrid phantoms).
Methods
In this randomized prospective study, 27 spheres visible on B-mode US were placed at depths of 3.5, 8.5, and 13.5 cm (nine spheres each). All 27 spheres were digitally erased from the CT images, and a radiopaque sphere was digitally placed at each of the 27 locations to create 27 different sets of CT images. Twenty clinicians were instructed to identify the sphere target using US alone and fusion imaging. The accuracy of target identification of the two methods was compared using McNemar’s test. The mean time required for target identification and error distances were compared using paired t tests.
Results
At all three depths, target identification was more accurate and the mean time required for target identification was significantly less with US-CT fusion imaging than with US alone, and the mean error distances were also shorter with US-CT fusion imaging.
Conclusion
US-CT fusion imaging was superior to US alone in terms of accurate and rapid identification of target lesions.
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Takeshi Soyama, Yusuke Sakuhara, Daisuke Abo, Jeff Wang, and Yu Hasegawa declare that they have no conflict of interest. Kohsuke Kudo reports grants from JSPS KAKENHI Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B), personal fees from GE Healthcare, Hitachi Medical Systems, Philips Medical Systems, Siemens Medical Systems, Toshiba Medical Systems, Canon Marketing Japan, Bayer Healthcare, and Daiichi-Sankyo Healthcare, which are not related to the submitted work. Yoichi M. Ito reports grants from Nihon Medi-Physics Corporation, personal fees from Japan Tobacco Inc., and personal fees from Ono Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., which are not related to the submitted work. Hiroki Shirato reports grants and non-financial support from Hitachi, Co., Ltd., personal fees from Mitsubishi Heavy Industry, grants from Hitachi Medico, grants from Varian Japan, and grants from Shimadzu, Co., Ltd., which are not related to the submitted work.
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This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects performed by any of the authors.
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Soyama, T., Sakuhara, Y., Kudo, K. et al. Comparison of conventional ultrasonography and ultrasonography-computed tomography fusion imaging for target identification using digital/real hybrid phantoms: a preliminary study. J Med Ultrasonics 43, 327–335 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10396-016-0704-2
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10396-016-0704-2