# Advanced image reconstruction for accurate and high-resolution breast ultrasound tomography

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT URBANA-CHAMPAIGN · 2020 · $516,538

## Abstract

ABSTRACT
The broad objective of this project is to develop and refine advanced tomographic image reconstruction
methods for ultrasound computed tomography (UST), referred to as waveform inversion methods, which will
permit high resolution and quantitative breast imaging. These methods will yield volumetric estimates of the
speed of sound (SOS) and acoustic attenuation (AA) distributions within the breast. The SOS and AA
represent bio-parameters that can reveal differences in the geometric and elastic properties of tissue. Such
information can greatly facilitate the differentiation of breast cancer from normal tissue or benign disease.
Accordingly, UST holds great potential for improving the detection and management of breast cancer since it
exploits effective endogenous tissue contrasts, is radiation- and breast-compression-free, and is relatively
inexpensive. The SoftVue whole breast UST system developed by members of our team has been awarded
FDA 510(k) clearance for diagnostic applications.
 Most reported methods for breast UST are ray-based and do not take into account acoustic diffraction
effects; this results in images of relatively poor spatial resolution and accuracy. This is highly undesirable for
breast imaging applications, in which the ability to resolve fine features is important for distinguishing healthy
from diseased tissues. Waveform inversion methods for UST image reconstruction are based on the full
acoustic wave equation and can circumvent the limitations of ray-based methods, thereby permitting high-
resolution quantitative UST breast imaging. However, the application of waveform inversion methods to breast
UST employing ring-transducer arrays has to-date employed 2D reconstruction methods to estimate sectional
UST images. Because 3D wave propagation physics and the focusing properties of the transducers are not
accounted for in this 2D approach, the images can contain significant artifacts and degraded spatial resolution.
 In this project, we will develop and optimize 3D UST waveform inversion methods for reconstructing SOS
and AA images of the breast of unprecedented quality. These methods will utilize acoustic data measured at
one or more locations of the ring-transducer array and will compensate for 3D wave physics and the focusing
properties of the transducers. In this approach, a thin (in height) volume will be reconstructed instead of a
single 2D slice. Whole breast imaging can then be accomplished by merging the thin reconstructed volumes
corresponding to different locations instead of stacking lower quality 2D slices as done in existing 2D methods.
The developed methods will be evaluated and refined by use of phantom and clinical data. The specific aims of
this project are: (1) Develop waveform inversion methods for high resolution SOS imaging; (2) Develop
waveform inversion methods for high resolution AA imaging; (4) Refinement of reconstruction methods via
breast phantom studies; (5) Assessment and refinement of re...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10017970
- **Project number:** 5R01EB028652-02
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT URBANA-CHAMPAIGN
- **Principal Investigator:** Mark A Anastasio
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $516,538
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2019-09-13 → 2023-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10017970

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10017970, Advanced image reconstruction for accurate and high-resolution breast ultrasound tomography (5R01EB028652-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-26 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10017970. Licensed CC0.

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