超声反向散射系数 (BSC) 测量是一种评估组织形态的方法，可以提供癌症等病理信息。然而，BSC 测量受到精度的限制，研究人员可以将其结果归一化，以在执行此类测量时考虑衍射和衰减的频率相关效应。我们提出了一种基于模拟的方法来调查评估平衡计分卡时的潜在错误来源。提出了一种用于 2D 有限元 (FE) 模拟的工具，使用降维的平面反射器替代方法来模拟 BSC 测量。其结果也通过 BSC 方程的降维新推导进行了验证。这些新推导允许基于 2D 散射区域、线参考反射器的散射和散射体 2D 分布的 BSC 理论值来计算 BSC 估计值。该 2D 模型旨在生成轻量级模拟，允许快速调查与 BSC 测量相关的因素，从而使研究人员能够在相对较短的时间范围内生成大型数据集。在非相干散射介质的条件下，模拟产生的 BSC 估计值与从模拟域计算出的理论值相差不超过 6%，该结果在一系列源 f 数范围内重现。该误差值与其他基于模拟的方法和物理实验的估计误差相比较。这里描述的数学和模拟模型为继续研究影响 BSC 测量准确性的因素提供了理论和实验框架。Crown 版权所有 © 2024。由 Elsevier B.V 出版。保留所有权利。

Ultrasound backscatter coefficient (BSC) measurement is a method for assessing tissue morphology that can inform on pathologies such as cancer. The BSC measurement is, however, limited by the accuracy with which the investigator can normalise their results to account for frequency dependent effects of diffraction and attenuation whilst performing such measurements. We propose a simulation-based approach to investigate the potential sources of error in assessing the BSC. Presented is a tool for the 2D Finite Element (FE) simulation mimicking a BSC measurement using the planar reflector substitution method in reduced dimensionality. The results of this are verified against new derivations of BSC equations also in reduced dimensionality. These new derivations allow computation of BSC estimates based on the scattering from a 2D scattering area, a line reference reflector and a theoretical value for the BSC of a 2D distribution of scatterers. This 2D model was designed to generate lightweight simulations that allow rapid investigation of the factors associated with BSC measurement, allowing the investigator to generate large data sets in relatively short time scales. Under the conditions for an incoherent scattering medium, the simulations produced BSC estimates within 6% of the theoretical value calculated from the simulation domain, a result reproduced across a range of source f-numbers. This value of error compares well to both estimated errors from other simulation based approaches and to physical experiments. The mathematical and simulation models described here provide a theoretical and experimental framework for continued investigation into factors affecting the accuracy of BSC measurements.Crown Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.