PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATION OF ULTRASOUND SCATTERING ANALYSIS TO IDENTIFY WOMEN AT RISK FOR LATER INVASIVE CANCER .1. MOTIVATION AND EXPERIMENTAL-TECHNIQUE FOR CHARACTERIZATION OF ISOLATED BREAST-TISSUE LOBULES

A new experimental technique is described that allows the characteriza tion of the angle-dependent ultrasonic scattering properties of isolat ed breast tissue lobule. A review of breast tissue micro-architecture is presented as background material, Measured estimates of the scatter angle-dependent differential scatter cross-sections (DSC) from 31 exc ised lobules (14 cancer in situ, 17 noncancer) were examined, and domi nant trends described by statistical factors. Three factors were extra cted, using principal component factor analysis, which collectively ac counted for over 70% of the scatter angle-dependent variation exhibite d by the measured data.