Comparison of Conventional Sonography, Real-Time Compound Sonography, Tissue Harmonic Sonography, and Tissue Harmonic Compound Sonography of Abdominal and Pelvic Lesions

OBJECTIVE. The purpose of this study was to compare conventional sonography, real-time spatial compound sonography, tissue harmonic sonography, and tissue harmonic sonography merged with compound sonography for overall image quality, lesion conspicuity, and elimination of artifacts.SUBJECTS AND METHODS. In this study, 150 lesions in 122 randomly selected patients with various abdominal and pelvic lesions were evaluated. For each lesion, sonograms were obtained with four techniques: conventional sonography, real-time spatial compound sonography, tissue harmonic sonography, and tissue harmonic compound sonography. All images were reviewed and graded independently by two observers for overall image quality, lesion conspicuity, and elimination of artifacts.RESULTS. Statistical analysis showed that for overall image quality, lesion conspicuity, and elimination of artifacts, tissue harmonic compound sonography was significantly superior to all of the other techniques; real-time spatial compound sonography was b...