  We investigate the usefulness of quantitative ultrasound (QUS) and B-mode
texture features for characterization of ulnar nerve fascicles. Ultrasound data
were acquired from cadaveric specimens using a nominal 30 MHz probe. Next, the
nerves were extracted to prepare histology sections. 85 fascicles were matched
between the B-mode images and the histology sections. For each fascicle image,
we selected an intra-fascicular region of interest. We used histology sections
to determine features related to the concentration of collagen and myelin, and
ultrasound data to calculate backscatter coefficient (-24.89 dB $\pm$ 8.31),
attenuation coefficient (0.92 db/cm-MHz $\pm$ 0.04), Nakagami parameter (1.01
$\pm$ 0.18) and entropy (6.92 $\pm$ 0.83), as well as B-mode texture features
obtained via the gray level co-occurrence matrix algorithm. Significant
Spearman's rank correlations between the combined collagen and myelin
concentrations were obtained for the backscatter coefficient (R=-0.68), entropy
(R=-0.51), and for several texture features. Our study demonstrates that QUS
may potentially provide information on structural components of nerve
fascicles.
