TISSUE HARMONIC IMAGING SONOGRAPHY - EVALUATION OF IMAGE QUALITY COMPARED WITH CONVENTIONAL SONOGRAPHY

OBJECTIVE. The purpose of this study was to determine if tissue harmon ic imaging (THI) sonography produced higher quality images than did co nventional sonography. SUBJECTS AND METHODS. A prospective study was p erformed on 89 patients to compare the image quality of THI sonography with that of conventional sonography. Each examination was performed using THI sonography (transmitted frequency, 2.0 MHz; received frequen cy, 4.0 MHz) and conventional sonography at 2.5 and 4.0 MHz. The pancr eatic area was studied in 60 patients, and other anatomic areas were s tudied in 68 patients. The images were then graded for penetration, de tail, and total image quality. Graders were unaware of the sonographic technique. RESULTS. Of the 60 pancreatic examinations, THI sonography was the best technique for penetration in 45, detail in 54, and total image quality in 50. For the pancreas, THI sonography was significant ly better than 2.5-MHz conventional sonography for penetration (p = .0 002), detail (p < .0001), and total image quality (p < .0001). THI son ography was significantly better than 4.0-MHz conventional sonography for penetration (p < .0001), detail (p <.0001), and total image qualit y (p <.0001). Of the 68 examinations of other anatomic areas, THI sono graphy was the best technique for penetration in 42, detail in 57, and total image quality in 58. For other anatomic areas, THI sonography w as significantly better than 2.5-MHz conventional sonography for penet ration (p = .05), detail (p <.0001), and total image quality (p < .000 1). THI sonography was significantly better than 4.0-MHz conventional sonography for penetration (p <.0001), detail (p < .0001), and total i mage quality (p <.0001). CONCLUSION. The THI technique improved sonogr aphic image quality.