Ultrasonic tissue characterization-assessment of prostate tissue malignancy in vivo using a conventional classifier based tissue classification approach and elastographic imaging

We present the development of a combined system which is able to exploit the benefits of two methods used for tissue characterization, strain imaging and tissue classification using a trainable classification system. Our system is able to acquire in vivo multi-compression rf-data for the calculation of the tissue strain, i.e. the elastic properties of tissue, induced by tissue compression. At the same time a neuro-fuzzy classification system is used to map the tissue malignancy. In vivo classification results and in vivo strain images are presented. The images of the two new modalities are compared to demonstrate the advantages and restrictions of both methods.