Computer assisted diagnosis using ultrasonography

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The proposed research is to investigate ways of enhancing ultrasound images so as to aid their interpretation by a medical professional.  Image enhancement algorithms will be designed to make differences between different kinds of tissues more visible, and to increase the difference in appearance between normal tissues and diseased tissues.  The enhanced images are called "virtual histology" images after the classical histology methods of staining and viewing tissues under a microscope which are used by pathologists to make diagnoses.  "Virtual histology" images will offer a new kind of information to medical professionals which will improve the accuracy and rapidity of diagnoses.  It may be possible to use "virtual histology" images to reduce the need for surgical biopsies to determine malignancy.  Invasive biopsy procedures could be replaced in some cases by a harmless ultrasound scan which is enhanced by "virtual histology" algorithms.  In the future, "virtual histology" images could be generated automatically by ultrasound machines at the time of examination leading to faster time to diagnosis for patients and allowing for low-cost early detection of pathologies.