Voxel based analysis of tissue volume from MRI data

There are many techniques available for the analysis of MRI data. Often these methods are presented as completed algorithms, which specify what processing must be performed, but they are rarely presented in a way which makes clear the assumptions that must hold in order that these algorithms will provide valid results. The aim of this review article is to relate the common forms of algorithms and to explain the assumptions behind them. This is done in the context of the use of quantitative statistical methods, which we understand to be the only self-consistent method for any data analysis. We hope that this will go some way towards helping with the choice of which algorithm to use for particular analysis tasks.