Abdominal Sonography: Evaluation of Image Quality in Patients with Varying BMI Using Tissue Harmonic Imaging and Standard Sonography

ABSTRACT

Background: The study was conducted at the Department of Radiodiagnosis and Imaging, Army Base Hospital Delhi Cantt on 200 patients (114 females, 86 males) with varying age and BMI (Body Mass Index) from year 2005 to 2009. Methods: Abdominal sonography was done using standard B mode using HDI 5000 (Philips/ATL) system. This equipment awarded a U.S. patent for Tissue Harmonic Imaging (THI).The study was done using broadband curvilinear 2 to 5 MHz (C 5-2) transducer. This transducer can be used for both standard conventional B-mode (CUSS) and tissue harmonic imaging (THI). Results: Correlation was done for BMI of the study population and was found that greater percentage of lesionswere seen better THI in patients having BMI >25. The p value was < 0.05 (significant). Conclusion: Out of the 258 positive findings assessed for total image quality in THI in comparison to CUSS the p value was < 0.001 (significant).