Work

Sonographic image texture features in muscle tissue-mimicking material reduce variability introduced by probe angle and gain settings compared to traditional echogenicity

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Cost-effective and portable ultrasonography offers a promising approach for monitoring skeletal muscle damage and quality in many contexts. However, echogenicity analysis relies on precise transducer orientations and machine parameters, posing challenges for data pooling across different raters and settings. Muscle texture analysis offers a potential means of reducing inter-rater and machine-setting variability. Scans were assessed at nine angles, controlled using a custom transducer shell and software. Scans were performed three times, and different gains were applied. All scans were performed on a muscle tissue-mimicking phantom to eliminate biological variability. Intra-angle and intra-gain variability and internal consistency were assessed via coefficient of variation (CV%) and Cronbach's alpha (αc). Spearman's (ρ) correlations were employed to determine the relationship between echogenicity and each texture feature. Entropy (angle: CV=2.7-7.6%; gain: CV=10.5%; αc=0.86), and inverse difference moment (angle: CV=3.7-9.8%; gain: CV=16.5%; αc=0.87) were less variable than echogenicity (angle: CV=6.4-19.4%; gain: CV=39.0%; αc=0.82). Angular second moment (angle: CV=17.9-116.6%; gain: CV=71.6%; αc=0.68), contrast (angle: CV=7.8-14.7%; gain: CV=41.8%;αc=0.75), and correlation (angle: CV=9.0-13.5%; gain: CV=28.6%; αc=0.49) features were generally more variable. Entropy (ρ=0.82-0.98, p≤0.011) and inverse difference moment (ρ=-0.98--0.83, p≤0.008), were more strongly correlated with echogenicity than angular second moment (ρ=-0.98--0.77, p≤0.016), contrast (ρ=0.53-0.98, p≤0.15), and correlation (ρ=-0.25--0.19, p=0.520-0.631). Entropy and inverse difference moment features may allow data sharing between laboratory and clinical settings with ultrasound machine parameters and raters of varying skill levels. Clinical and mechanistic studies are required to determine if texture features can replace echogenicity assessments.

Source: European Journal of Translational Myology

DOI: 10.4081/ejtm.2025.13511

Authors: Dustin J. Oranchuk, Katie L. Boncella, Daniella Gonzalez-Rivera, Michael O. Harris-Love

Institutions: University of Colorado Anschutz, University of Colorado Denver, VA Eastern Colorado Health Care System

Language: English

Topic: Ultrasound Imaging and Elastography

Subfield: Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Imaging

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $377