Examination of optimal moments as input parameters for evaluation of liver fibrosis based on multi-Rayleigh model

The diagnosis of liver fibrosis using an ultrasound B-mode image has the advantages of real-time observation and noninvasive properties. We proposed a multi-Rayleigh model to express a probability density function (PDF) of echo envelope from a fibrotic liver. By using the multi-Rayleigh model, fibrotic parameters can be estimated. To quantitatively evaluate liver fibrosis using the multi-Rayleigh model, it is important to establish a high estimation accuracy method of multi-Rayleigh model parameters for clinical data. In this paper, by using the simulated ultrasound B-mode image, the relationship between the moments of echo data as input parameters for the evaluation of liver fibrosis based on the multi-Rayleigh model and the estimation accuracy of the multi-Rayleigh model parameters was examined. From the simulation results, we can determine the optimal combination of moments that can improve the estimation accuracy of the multi-Rayleigh model by focusing on the distribution of estimated values in the multi-Rayleigh model parameters’ space.