Ultrasound echo evaluation by K-distribution

The ultrasonic echo backscattered from tissues is modeled using non-Rayleigh statistics, namely the K distribution. Through simulation using a one dimensional discrete scattering model, the properties of statistics governing the echo envelope are investigated. Deviations from Rayleigh are observed as the variation in the scattering cross sections become random. The density function of the backscattered envelope fits the K-distribution very well. The validity of the model was also tested using tissue mimicking phantoms. Results indicate that the parameters of the K distribution can be used to separate and identify regions on the basis of the uniformity of scattering cross sections of the scatterers