Feasibility of a Vascular-Specific Super Resolution Ultrasound Algorithm for Prostate Cancer Imaging

Contrast agents in ultrasound imaging are gas filled microbubbles which remain within the vascular network. Super-resolution ultrasound imaging (SRUI) can be achieved by tracking the contrast agent echoes and creating maps depicting the vasculature. In this work, a new vascular-specific SRUI tracking algorithm was developed using a synthetic network and applied to contrast enhanced ultrasound video data collected from patients with known prostate cancer. The output from SRUI was compared to postoperative pathology assessment of the same prostates. Vascular dynamics in regions of known cancer were evaluated and compared to regions of normal prostate structure. Faster and higher volume blood flow was found at locations associated with significant prostate cancer.