Clinical Evaluation of the B'-Scan

The diagnostic utility of quantitative backscatter imaging (B'-scan) was investigated using three groups of patients. Estimates of both the attenuation coefficient and the backscatter coefficient in the first group of healthy volunteers were consistent with results reported elsewhere. The backscatter coefficient measured in a group of six sub- jects with documented cirrhosis of the liver was significantly higher than normal. In contrast, the backscatter coefficient measured in a group of six subjects with adenocarcinoma metastasis of the liver was significantly lower than normal. These results suggest that the B'-Scan augments the information of a conventional B-scan.