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Research Theme

Imaging

You are here: Home > Research Themes > Imaging > Sub-theme: Improving the diagnostic quality of ultrasound

Sub-theme: Improving the diagnostic quality of ultrasound

As an imaging modality to monitor pregnancy, ultrasound has many advantages: it is relatively cheap, portable and gives real time information. The quality, clarity and resulting diagnostic power of the images acquired are highly dependent on the expertise of the person undertaking the exam, usually following a standard protocol. Use of ultrasound by a non-expert is challenging and often results in poor image quality, which has the potential to cause misdiagnosis.

In collaboration with a University of Oxford spin-out business, Intelligent Ultrasound, we have successfully developed novel, fully automated fetal ultrasound screening auditing tools based on machine-learning. These tools allow screening ultrasound scans to be monitored for quality and adherence to protocol. They not only provide a way to assure quality of imaging services, but can also help to identify training needs, and enhance efficiency.

Ultrasound image
Ultrasound image

This is a new partnership project between the university and Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and will investigate the extension of the concept: from supporting screening, to diagnostic reporting. This is not easy, because diagnostic criteria are usually less well-defined and more complex than criteria for screening. We will create a machine-learning based tool for assessing the quality of gynaecological diagnostic ultrasound image reporting. Current manual processes will be the starting point and help define the clinical diagnostic criteria, but machine-learning methods will be developed for to automate audit (manual audit is a time consuming and onerous task); this will use clinical ultrasound data as ground truth, information provided by direct observation rather than inference. This will form the groundwork for evaluation in a real world setting with our commercial partners.


Sub-theme leads

Alison Noble, Aris Papageorghiou
Department of Engineering Science and Nuffield Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology

Contact: alison.noble@eng.ox.ac.uk

  • Aris Papageorghiou
    Aris Papageorghiou
  • Alison Noble
    Alison Noble

Imaging Theme

  • Introduction
  • Sub-theme: Cardiac tissue characterisation with MRI
  • Sub-theme: Computer guided endoscopy for precancerous change in the oesophagus
  • Sub-theme: Development of novel MRI measures of tissue health
  • Sub-theme: Economic and policy considerations of novel imaging techniques
  • Sub-theme: Efficient scanning using cardiovascular computed tomography
  • Sub-theme: Hyperpolarized Magnetic Resonance – making clearer pictures
  • Sub-theme: Hyperpolarised Xenon Imaging (HPX)
  • Sub-theme: Improving the diagnostic quality of ultrasound
  • Sub-theme: Quantitative MRI in hepatopancreaticobiliary (HPB) imaging
  • Sub-theme: Standardisation of new cardiac MRI mapping techniques for immediate clinical applications
  • Sub-theme: Modelling the heart-brain-liver axis via multi-organ MRI in UK Biobank
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