Singular spectrum analysis applied to ultrasonic detection and imaging of brachytherapy seeds

EM-enhanced US-based seed detection for prostate brachytherapy

PURPOSE

Intraoperative dosimetry in low-dose-rate (LDR) permanent prostate brachytherapy requires accurate localization of the implanted seeds with respect to the prostate anatomy. Transrectal Ultrasound (TRUS) imaging, which is the main imaging modality used during the procedure, is not sufficiently robust for accurate seed localization. We present a method for integration of electromagnetic (EM) tracking into LDR prostate brachytherapy procedure by fusing it with TRUS imaging for seed localization.

METHOD

Experiments were conducted on five tissue mimicking phantoms in a controlled environment. The seeds were implanted into each phantom using an EM-tracked needle, which allowed recording of seed drop locations. After each needle, we reconstructed a 3D ultrasound (US) volume by compounding a series of 2D US images acquired during retraction of an EM-tracked TRUS probe. Then, a difference image was generated by nonrigid registration and subtraction of two consecutive US volumes. A US-only seed detection method was used to detect seed candidates in the difference volume, based on the signature of the seeds. Finally, the EM-based positions of the seeds were used to detect the false positives of the US-based seed detection method and also to estimate the positions of the missing seeds. After the conclusion of the seed implant process, we acquired a CT image. The ground truth for seed locations was obtained by localizing the seeds in the CT image and registering them to the US coordinate system.

RESULTS

Compared to the ground truth, the US-only detection algorithm achieved a localization error mean of 1.7 mm with a detection rate of 85%. By contrast, the EM-only seed localization method achieved a localization error mean of 3.7 mm with a detection rate of 100%. By fusing EM-tracking information with US imaging, we achieved a localization error mean of 1.8 mm while maintaining a 100% detection rate without any false positives.

CONCLUSIONS

Fusion of EM-tracking and US imaging for prostate brachytherapy can combine high localization accuracy of US-based seed detection with the robustness and high detection rate of EM-based seed localization. Our phantom experiments serve as a proof of concept to demonstrate the potential value of integrating EM-tracking into LDR prostate brachytherapy.

Spontaneous oscillation in cell adhesion and stiffness measured using atomic force microscopy

Atomic force microscopy (AFM) is an attractive technique for studying biomechanical and morphological changes in live cells. Using real-time AFM monitoring of cellular mechanical properties, spontaneous oscillations in cell stiffness and cell adhesion to the extracellular matrix (ECM) have been found. However, the lack of automated analytical approaches to systematically extract oscillatory signals, and noise filtering from a large set of AFM data, is a significant obstacle when quantifying and interpreting the dynamic characteristics of live cells. Here we demonstrate a method that extends the usage of AFM to quantitatively investigate live cell dynamics. Approaches such as singular spectrum analysis (SSA), and fast Fourier transform (FFT) were introduced to analyze a real-time recording of cell stiffness and the unbinding force between the ECM protein-decorated AFM probe and vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). The time series cell adhesion and stiffness data were first filtered with SSA and the principal oscillatory components were isolated from the noise floor with the computed eigenvalue from the lagged-covariance matrix. Following the SSA, the oscillatory parameters were detected by FFT from the noise-reduced time series data sets and the sinusoidal oscillatory components were constructed with the parameters obtained by FFT.

A Review of Ultrasound Tissue Characterization with Mean Scatterer Spacing

Tissues exhibiting quasi-periodic structures can be modeled as a collection of diffuse scatterers and coherent scatterers. The mean scatterer spacing (MSS) of coherent and quasi-periodic components is directly related to tissue microstructure and has become an important quantitative ultrasound (QUS) parameter in the characterization of quasi-periodic tissues. In this paper, a review of the literature on the development of MSS as a QUS parameter was conducted. First, a unified theoretical background of MSS estimates was provided. Then, the application of MSS estimates was summarized with respect to liver, spleen, breast, bone, muscle, and other tissues. MSS estimation techniques were applied to (a) the diagnosis of hepatitis, liver fibrosis and cirrhosis, and lesions in tissues such as liver, breast, and spleen; (b) the differentiation between benign and malignant breast tumors, and the grading of breast cancer; (c) the detection of cancellous bone; and (d) the monitoring of the efficacy of treatments such as thermal ablation, with various levels of success. Future developments were also discussed in terms of real-time implementation of MSS estimates, local MSS estimation, relationship of MSS to other QUS parameters, combination of MSS with other QUS parameters, in vivo validation of MSS estimates, MSS parametric imaging, and three-dimensional ultrasound tissue characterization.

Emotion Recognition with Eigen Features of Frequency Band Activities Embedded in Induced Brain Oscillations Mediated by Affective Pictures

In this study, singular spectrum analysis (SSA) has been used for the first time in order to extract emotional features from well-defined electroencephalography (EEG) frequency band activities (BAs) so-called delta (0.5–4[Formula: see text]Hz), theta (4–8[Formula: see text]Hz), alpha (8–16[Formula: see text]Hz), beta (16–32[Formula: see text]Hz), gamma (32–64[Formula: see text]Hz). These five BAs were estimated by applying sixth-level multi-resolution wavelet decomposition (MRWD) with Daubechies wavelets (db-8) to single channel nonaveraged emotional EEG oscillations of 6 s for each scalp location over 16 recording sites (Fp1, Fp2, F3, F4, F7, F8, C3, C4, P3, P4, T3, T4, T5, T6, O1, O2). Every trial was mediated by different emotional stimuli which were selected from international affective picture system (IAPS) to induce emotional states such as pleasant (P), neutral (N), and unpleasant (UP). Largest principal components (PCs) of BAs were considered as emotional features and data mining approaches were used for the first time in order to classify both three different (P, N, UP) and two contrasting (P and UP) emotional states for 30 healthy controls. Emotional features extracted from gamma BAs (GBAs) for 16 recording sites provided the high classification accuracies of 87.1% and 100% for classification of three emotional states and two contrasting emotional states, respectively. In conclusion, we found the followings: (1) Eigenspectra of high frequency BAs in EEG are highly sensitive to emotional hemispheric activations, (2) emotional states are mostly mediated by GBA, (3) pleasant pictures induce the higher cortical activation in contrast to unpleasant pictures, (4) contrasting emotions induce opposite cortical activations, (5) cognitive activities are necessary for an emotion to occur.

Classification of awake, REM, and NREM from EEG via singular spectrum analysis

In this study, a single-channel electroencephalography (EEG) analysis method has been proposed for automated 3-state-sleep classification to discriminate Awake, NREM (non-rapid eye movement) and REM (rapid eye movement). For this purpose, singular spectrum analysis (SSA) is applied to automatically extract four brain rhythms: delta, theta, alpha, and beta. These subbands are then used to generate the appropriate features for sleep classification using a multi class support vector machine (M-SVM). The proposed method provided 0.79 agreement between the manual and automatic scores.

Quantitative ultrasound spectroscopic imaging for characterization of disease extent in prostate cancer patients

Three-dimensional quantitative ultrasound spectroscopic imaging of prostate was investigated clinically for the noninvasive detection and extent characterization of disease in cancer patients and compared to whole-mount, whole-gland histopathology of radical prostatectomy specimens. Fifteen patients with prostate cancer underwent a volumetric transrectal ultrasound scan before radical prostatectomy. Conventional-frequency (~5MHz) ultrasound images and radiofrequency data were collected from patients. Normalized power spectra were used as the basis of quantitative ultrasound spectroscopy. Specifically, color-coded parametric maps of 0-MHz intercept, midband fit, and spectral slope were computed and used to characterize prostate tissue in ultrasound images. Areas of cancer were identified in whole-mount histopathology specimens, and disease extent was correlated to that estimated from quantitative ultrasound parametric images. Midband fit and 0-MHz intercept parameters were found to be best associated with the presence of disease as located on histopathology whole-mount sections. Obtained results indicated a correlation between disease extent estimated noninvasively based on midband fit parametric images and that identified histopathologically on prostatectomy specimens, with an r(2) value of 0.71 (P<.0001). The 0-MHz intercept parameter demonstrated a lower level of correlation with histopathology. Spectral slope parametric maps offered no discrimination of disease. Multiple regression analysis produced a hybrid disease characterization model (r(2)=0.764, P<.05), implying that the midband fit biomarker had the greatest correlation with the histopathologic extent of disease. This work demonstrates that quantitative ultrasound spectroscopic imaging can be used for detecting prostate cancer and characterizing disease extent noninvasively, with corresponding gross three-dimensional histopathologic correlation.

In vivo visualization of prostate brachytherapy seeds with photoacoustic imaging

We conducted a canine study to investigate the in vivo feasibility of photoacoustic imaging for intraoperative updates to brachytherapy treatment plans. A fiber coupled to a 1064-nm Nd:YAG laser was inserted into high-dose-rate brachytherapy needles, which diffused light spherically. These needles were inserted through the perineum into the prostate for interstitial light delivery and the resulting acoustic waves were detected with a transrectal ultrasound probe. Postoperative computed tomography images and ex vivo photoacoustic images confirmed seed locations. Limitations with insufficient light delivery were mitigated with short-lag spatial coherence (SLSC) beamforming, providing a 10-20 dB contrast improvement over delay-and-sum (DAS) beamforming for pulse energies ranging from 6.8 to 10.5 mJ with a fiber-seed distance as large as 9.5 mm. For the same distance and the same range of energy densities, signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs) were similar while the contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) was higher in SLSC compared to DAS images. Challenges included visualization of signals associated with the interstitial fiber tip and acoustic reverberations between seeds separated by ≤ 2 mm. Results provide insights into the potential for clinical translation to humans.

Comparison of template-matching and singular-spectrum-analysis methods for imaging implanted brachytherapy seeds

Brachytherapy using small implanted radioactive seeds is becoming an increasingly popular method for treating prostate cancer, in which a radiation oncologist implants seeds in the prostate transperineally under ultrasound guidance. Dosimetry software determines the optimal placement of seeds for achieving the prescribed dose based on ultrasonic determination of the gland boundaries. However, because of prostate movement and distortion during the implantation procedure, some seeds may not be placed in the desired locations; this causes the delivered dose to differ from the prescribed dose. Current ultrasonic imaging methods generally cannot depict the implanted seeds accurately. We are investigating new ultrasonic imaging methods that show promise for enhancing the visibility of seeds and thereby enabling real-time detection and correction of seed-placement errors during the implantation procedure. Real-time correction of seed-placement errors will improve the therapeutic radiation dose delivered to target tissues. In this work, we compare the potential performance of a template-matching method and a previously published method based on singular spectrum analysis for imaging seeds. In particular, we evaluated how changes in seed angle and position relative to the ultrasound beam affect seed detection. The conclusion of the present study is that singular spectrum analysis has better sensitivity but template matching is more resistant to false positives; both perform well enough to make seed detection clinically feasible over a relevant range of angles and positions. Combining the information provided by the two methods may further reduce ambiguities in determining where seeds are located.

High-frequency ultrasound for intraoperative margin assessments in breast conservation surgery: a feasibility study

Background

In addition to breast imaging, ultrasound offers the potential for characterizing and distinguishing between benign and malignant breast tissues due to their different microstructures and material properties. The aim of this study was to determine if high-frequency ultrasound (20-80 MHz) can provide pathology sensitive measurements for the ex vivo detection of cancer in margins during breast conservation surgery.

Methods

Ultrasonic tests were performed on resected margins and other tissues obtained from 17 patients, resulting in 34 specimens that were classified into 15 pathology categories. Pulse-echo and through-transmission measurements were acquired from a total of 57 sites on the specimens using two single-element 50-MHz transducers. Ultrasonic attenuation and sound speed were obtained from time-domain waveforms. The waveforms were further processed with fast Fourier transforms to provide ultrasonic spectra and cepstra. The ultrasonic measurements and pathology types were analyzed for correlations. The specimens were additionally re-classified into five pathology types to determine specificity and sensitivity values.

Results

The density of peaks in the ultrasonic spectra, a measure of spectral structure, showed significantly higher values for carcinomas and precancerous pathologies such as atypical ductal hyperplasia than for normal tissue. The slopes of the cepstra for non-malignant pathologies displayed significantly greater values that differentiated them from the normal and malignant tissues. The attenuation coefficients were sensitive to fat necrosis, fibroadenoma, and invasive lobular carcinoma. Specificities and sensitivities for differentiating pathologies from normal tissue were 100% and 86% for lobular carcinomas, 100% and 74% for ductal carcinomas, 80% and 82% for benign pathologies, and 80% and 100% for fat necrosis and adenomas. Specificities and sensitivities were also determined for differentiating each pathology type from the other four using a multivariate analysis. The results yielded specificities and sensitivities of 85% and 86% for lobular carcinomas, 85% and 74% for ductal carcinomas, 100% and 61% for benign pathologies, 84% and 100% for fat necrosis and adenomas, and 98% and 80% for normal tissue.

Conclusions

Results from high-frequency ultrasonic measurements of human breast tissue specimens indicate that characteristics in the ultrasonic attenuation, spectra, and cepstra can be used to differentiate between normal, benign, and malignant breast pathologies.

Angle-dependent ultrasonic detection and imaging of two types of brachytherapy seeds using singular spectrum analysis

Brachytherapy to treat prostate cancer uses transrectal ultrasound to guide implantation of titanium-shelled radioactive seeds. Transperitoneal implantation allows errors in placement that cause suboptimal dosimetry. Conventional ultrasound cannot reliably image implanted seeds; therefore, seed misplacements cannot be corrected in the operating room. Previously, an algorithm based on singular spectrum analysis was shown to image palladium seeds better than B-mode ultrasound could. The algorithm is now applied to imaging an iodine seed in gel and in beef tissue as a function of seed angle relative to the incident ultrasound. Results indicate that both seed types are imaged reliably by the algorithm.

Angle-dependent ultrasonic detection and imaging of brachytherapy seeds using singular spectrum analysis

Transrectal-ultrasound-guided brachytherapy uses small titanium-shelled radioactive seeds to locally treat prostate cancer. During the implantation procedure, needles inserted transperitoneally cause gland movement resulting in seed misplacement and suboptimal dosimetry. In a previous study, an algorithm based on singular spectrum analysis (SSA) applied to envelope-detected ultrasound signals was proposed to determine seed locations [J. Mamou and E. J. Feleppa, J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 121, 1790-1801 (2007)]. Successful implementation of the SSA algorithm could allow correcting dosimetry errors during the implantation procedure. The algorithm demonstrated promise when the seed orientation was parallel to the needle and normal to the ultrasound beam. In this present study, the algorithm was tested when the seed orientation deviated up to 22 degrees from normality. Experimental data from a seed in an ideal environment and in beef were collected with a single-element, spherically focused, 5 MHz transducer. Simulations were designed and evaluated with the algorithm. Finally, objective quantitative scoring metrics were developed to evaluate the algorithm performance and for comparison with B-mode images. The results quantitatively established that the SSA algorithm always outperformed B-mode images and that seeds could be detected accurately up to a deviation of approximately 10 degrees .