Polydisperse structure factor model for understanding the ultrasonic scattering from apoptotic cells

Quantitative UltraSound (QUS) techniques for determining the tissue microstructure are promising tools to detect and quantify cell death, and thus monitor the tumor response to therapy. QUS techniques rely on theoretical scattering models to fit the BackScatter Coefficient (BSC) from biological tissues to an estimated BSC using an appropriate model. The model adapted to densely packed cells in tumors is the structure factor model. The aim of this work was to use the polydisperse structure factor model to go further in the understanding of the measured BSCs from cells undergoing apoptosis.