An experimental characterization of spatial resolution in elastography: analysis of the tradeoffs between spatial resolution and contrast-to-noise ratio

An experimental study of the spatial resolution in elastography was conducted. Models that involved two cylindrical inclusions placed in the form of a wedge were used to characterize the axial and lateral resolution of the axial strain elastograms. A good agreement between the experimental results and the theoretical results was found. The tradeoff between the spatial resolution and the elastographic contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR/sub e/) was then analyzed. A non-linear tradeoff between the CNR/sub e/ and the axial resolution was found that confirmed prior theoretical findings.