ULTRASOUND TISSUE DISPLACEMENT IMAGING WITH APPLICATION TO BREAST-CANCER

A method for quantitative imaging of internal tissue motion based on s peckle tracking is described. Tissue displacement images from eight pa tients with sonographically apparent breast masses are used to illustr ate the technique. The local displacement response of tissues surround ing malignant and benign breast masses is compared, testing the hypoth esis that altered mechanical properties may result in motion signature s for many soft tissue tumors relative to their host tissue. In additi on, the potential or anticipated influence of various biological and p hysical factors on tissue motion response is discussed.