A framework for ultrasound computed tomography virtual imaging trials that employs anatomically realistic numerical breast phantoms

Abstract

In silico studies for ultrasound computed tomography (USCT) can allow to explore imaging system parameters and reconstruction methods, without the economic burden and ethical concerns of clinical trials. A framework is proposed for virtual imaging trials of USCT. First, an ensemble of three-dimensional numerical breast phantoms consisting of anatomically realistic tissue structures and lesions is created. Next, acoustic properties are assigned to each tissue-type within physiological ranges. Finally, USCT measurement data are computed by simulating acoustic wave propagation. The proposed framework will establish a standard pipeline for USCT virtual imaging trials and provide publicly available large-scale datasets