Characterization of splenic structure in Hodgkin disease by using narrow-band filtration of backscattered ultrasound

Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Stanford University Medical Center, CA 94305.

A preliminary study was performed to evaluate the effectiveness of narrow-band filtration of backscattered ultrasound for the detection of splenic involvement in patients with Hodgkin disease. Regions of interest were identified in the spleens of 14 normal volunteers and eight Hodgkin disease patients before staging laparotomy. An analysis of the narrow-band-filtered waveforms showed that the mean amplitudes of the filtered ultrasonic signals received correlated with the presence of extensive splenic involvement with Hodgkin disease (defined as more than four grossly visible nodules on cut section) (p = .0004). Conversely, mean amplitudes of unfiltered ultrasonic backscatter, employed in conventional sonographic imaging, did not correlate with splenic involvement (p = .5). Phantom studies were performed to develop a tissue model for the observed phenomena; images of the phantoms and of the involved and uninvolved spleens were made by using techniques involving narrow-band filtration of backscattered ultrasound. Our results indicate that narrow-band-filtered sonography holds promise for detecting lymphomatous involvement of the spleen, although larger studies, with equipment allowing real-time implementation of narrow-band filtering, are needed.
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