光声成像(PAI)是一种强大的新兴技术,具有广泛的临床应用,但是需要共识测试方法来标准化绩效评估并加速翻译。
回顾成熟成像模式的共识图像质量测试方法[超声,磁共振成像(MRI),x射线CT,和X线乳房X线照相术],确定幻影设计和测试程序的最佳实践,并与当前PAI幻影测试的实践进行比较。
我们审查了科学论文,国际标准,临床认证指南,以及描述医学图像质量测试方法的专业协会建议。观察由图像质量特征(IQC)组织,包括空间分辨率,几何精度,成像深度,均匀性,灵敏度,低对比度可检测性,和文物。
共识文件通常规定了幻影几何形状和材料属性要求,以及特定的数据采集和分析方案,以优化测试的一致性和可重复性。虽然这些文件考虑了各种各样的IQC,据报道,PAI幻影测试主要集中在平面内分辨率上,可视化的深度,和敏感性。值得进一步考虑的深入研究的IQC包括平面外分辨率,几何精度,均匀性,低对比度可检测性,和共同注册的准确性。
可用的医学图像质量标准为建立光声图像质量评估的共识最佳实践提供了蓝图,从而加快了PAI技术的进步。翻译,和临床采用。
Photoacoustic imaging (PAI) is a powerful emerging technology with broad clinical applications, but
consensus test methods are needed to standardize performance evaluation and accelerate translation.
To review
consensus image quality test methods for mature imaging modalities [ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), x-ray CT, and x-ray mammography], identify best practices in phantom design and testing procedures, and compare against current practices in PAI phantom testing.
We reviewed scientific papers, international standards, clinical accreditation
guidelines, and professional society recommendations describing medical image quality test methods. Observations are organized by image quality characteristics (IQCs), including spatial resolution, geometric accuracy, imaging depth, uniformity, sensitivity, low-contrast detectability, and artifacts.
Consensus documents typically prescribed phantom geometry and material property requirements, as well as specific data acquisition and analysis protocols to optimize test consistency and reproducibility. While these documents considered a wide array of IQCs, reported PAI phantom testing focused heavily on in-plane resolution, depth of visualization, and sensitivity. Understudied IQCs that merit further consideration include out-of-plane resolution, geometric accuracy, uniformity, low-contrast detectability, and co-registration accuracy.
Available medical image quality standards provide a blueprint for establishing
consensus best practices for photoacoustic image quality assessment and thus hastening PAI technology advancement, translation, and clinical adoption.