James A. Zagzebski
Credentials: PhD
Position title: Emeritus Professor, Medical Physics
Email: jazagzeb@wisc.edu
Education
BA, Physics, St. Mary’s College, Winona, MN
MS, Physics, University of Wisconsin-Madison
PhD, Radiological Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Research Interests
Quantitative ultrasound imaging for improved detection of breast masses, thyroid nodules, and focal and diffuse liver disease
Estimations of speed of sound using pulse-echo imaging devices>
Ultrasound contrast agents
Performance specification and acceptance testing of gray scale and Doppler ultrasound imaging systems.
My research is in ultrasound imaging and ultrasound tissue characterization. I am interested in the fundamental physics of ultrasound B-mode image production, relating the tissue microstructure to texture and other features on these images.
Current ultrasound imaging machines depict the amplitudes of echoes and are only qualitative because of operator and system dependencies. However, by processing the frequency dependencies of the backscattered echo data, and by careful standardization using known reference objects, it’s possible to measure backscatter coefficients and attenuation coefficients precisely. We can also form images of the “scatterer-size” by comparing backscatter vs frequency data from the tissue with expected backscatter vs. frequency data from scattering models.
Examples of applications of these techniques being explored in our group are in breast tumor diagnosis and in thyroid imaging. We have an NIH supported, Bioengineering Research Partnership with the University of Illinois to determine whether we can use quantitative image data – such as of the scatterer size – to differentiate benign from malignant masses in the breast. If this is possible, we believe we can significantly reduce the number of unnecessary biopsy procedures currently done for “suspicious” masses, and we are in the second year of this 5-year grant. Similarly, in the thyroid, suspicious nodules are seen in increasing numbers as a result of secondary findings from other medical imaging procedures. We hope to reduce the number of necessary biopsies and even unnecessary surgical procedures by providing greater specificity on the ultrasound image that that provided by amplitude images alone.
Awards and Honors
- Fellow, American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine
- Journal of Clinical Ultrasound, Best Paper Award, 1992
- Joseph H. Holmes-Basic Science Pioneer Award, American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine, 1996
- Fellow, American Association of Physicists in Medicine, 1997
- Member, First Scientific Advisory Council of the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering, 2002-2005
Patents
- 4,277,367 “Phantom Material and Method, EL Madsen, JA Zagzebski, RA Banjavic, MM Burlew. Madison, WI (July, 1981).
- 4,843,866 “Ultrasound Phantom, EL Madsen, JA Zagzebski, GR Frank. Madison, WI (July, 1989).
- 5,574,212 “Automated System and Method for Testing Resolution of Ultrasound Scanners, EL Madsen, JA Zagzebski, GR Frank, JJ Rownd. Madison, WI (November, 1996).
- 5,670,719 “Automated System and Method for Testing Resolution of Ultrasound Scanners, EL Madsen, JA Zagzebski, GR Frank, JJ Rownd. Madison, WI (September, 1997).
- 6,749,571 “Method and Apparatus for Cardiac Elastography, T Varghese, CS Breburdan, JA Zagzebski, PS Rahko. Madison, WI (June, 2004).
- 7,166,075 “Elastographic Imaging of In Vivo Soft Tissue, T Varghese, JA Zagzebski, U Techavipoo, Q Chen. Madison, WI (January, 2007).
- 7,275,439 “Parametric Ultrasound Imaging Using Angular Compounding, JA Zagzebski, T Varghese, AL Gerig. Madison, WI (October, 2007).
- 7,297,116 “Method and Apparatus for Imaging the Cervix and Uterine Wall, T Varghese, MA Kliewer, JA Zagzebski. Madison, WI (November, 2007).
- 7,331,926 “Ultrasonic Elastography Providing Axial, Orthogonal, and Shear Strain, T Varghese, U Techavipoo, Q Chen, JA Zagzebski. Madison, WI (February, 2008).
- Provisional “Method for Producing Highly Constrained Ultrasound Images, JA Zagzebski, CA Mistretta. Madison, WI.
Memberships
- American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM)
- Past chair, General Medical Physics Committee
- Past chair, Ultrasound Committee
- American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine (AIUM)
- Past member, AIUM Board of Governors
- Commission for Accreditation of Medical Physics Educational Programs
- Member, Graduate Education Program Review Committee
- Quantitative Imaging Biomarker Alliance
- Member, Volume Flow Committee
- Past member, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineering Ultrasonics Society
- Past member, American College of Radiology
- Past member, International Veterinary Ultrasound Society
- Past member, Society of Directors of Academic Medical Physics Programs
- Past member, American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers
- Advisory Board; chair of ultrasound physics exam committee