Systems and techniques for estimating acoustic attenuation in a tissue from time-varying radiation force information generated through the application of acoustic energy to the tissue from at least first and second focal depths are provided. An exemplary technique includes acquiring first signals representing oscillatory motion of the tissue in response to the radiation force proximate the first focal depth, and acquiring second signals representing oscillatory motion of the tissue in response to the radiation force proximate the second focal depth. The technique further includes estimating the oscillatory motion of the tissue from each of the first and second signals, and estimating the acoustic attenuation in the tissue from the estimated oscillatory motion of the tissue from the first and second signals.
