Microvessel size quantification for parametric assessment using contrast enhanced ultrasound

An ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system for conducting contrast-enhanced ultrasound imaging and assessment of microvasculature comprising:

• an ultrasound probe adapted to acquire ultrasonic echo signals from an image field experiencing a flow of a microbubble contrast agent;
• a beamformer coupled to the ultrasound probe and adapted to produce beamformed echo signals;
• a contrast image processor coupled to the beamformer, and adapted to produce images of microvessels perfused with the microbubble contrast agent;
• an image display coupled to the contrast image processor and adapted to display the images of the microvessels perfused with the microbubble contrast agent;
• a Cineloop memory, coupled to the contrast image processor, and adapted to store a sequence of the images of anatomy perfused with the microbubble contrast agent acquired during wash-in of the microbubble contrast agent;
• and
• a microvessel measurement & selection processor, coupled to the Cineloop memory, and adapted to enable selection of a group of microvessels for measurement and to measure sizes of the microvessels, wherein the microvessel measurement & selection processor is further adapted to enable selection of a range of microvessel sizes for assessment.