Image quality assurance for B-mode diagnostic ultrasound: Kiviat-based protocol first application

To date, Quality Assurance (QA) for diagnostic ultrasound is not mandatory despite the continuous research in the field. Limits associated with visually assessed tests and the lack of an integrated approach able to combine the contribution of the large number of existing tests are key factors limiting the definition of an agreed protocol for QA assessment. This study proposes the first application of a QA protocol based on the Kiviat diagram for B-mode diagnostic equipment. Custom image analysis-based methods were implemented for the objective assessment of six tests. A test-specific mapping equation was used to combine and represent them on the Kiviat diagram. Tests were conducted on two ultrasound diagnostic systems (UDSs) including a convex and a phased array probe each. Scaled outcomes allowed an effective comparison among the tests and compatible overall performance was found between the two UDSs only with the convex array probe model. The proposed integrated QA protocol turned out to be a promising tool that could help in comparing the performance of UDSs of different technological levels, even produced by different manufacturers, and monitoring them over time.