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Lesion Explorer: A Video-guided, Standardized Protocol for Accurate and Reliable MRI-derived Volumetrics in Alzheimer's Disease and Normal Elderly
Published on: April 14, 2014
Repeatability of measured brain volume by atlas-based method using T1-weighted image.
Masami Goto1, Tosiaki Miyati, Osamu Abe
1Department of Radiological Technology, University of Tokyo Hospital, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8655, Japan. car6_pa2_rw@yahoo.co.jp
Journal of Digital Imaging
|July 21, 2011
Summary
This study assessed brain MRI volume measurement repeatability using an atlas-based method. Smoothing images improved accuracy for specific brain regions, enhancing reliability in neuroimaging analysis.
Area of Science:
- Neuroimaging
- Radiology
- Medical Image Analysis
Background:
- Atlas-based methods are crucial for quantifying brain structure volumes from MRI.
- Assessing the repeatability of these measurements is essential for clinical and research applications.
- Image smoothing techniques may influence the precision of volume estimations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the repeatability of brain region volume measurements using an atlas-based method.
- To evaluate whether image smoothing enhances the repeatability of atlas-based volume measurements.
- To report repeatability metrics for various brain structures.
Main Methods:
- T1-weighted MRI scans from five healthy subjects were analyzed.
- Statistical Parametric Mapping 5 and WFU PickAtlas software were utilized.
- Volume measurements were performed on six regions of interest (ROIs) using smoothed and non-smoothed images.
Main Results:
- Non-smoothed images showed average percentage changes ranging from 0.375% (white matter) to 1.692% (orbital gyrus).
- Image smoothing, particularly with a large Full Width at Half Maximum (FWHM), improved repeatability for the orbital gyrus.
- This study provides the first report on the repeatability of atlas-based volume measurements across multiple brain structures.
Conclusions:
- The atlas-based method demonstrates varying degrees of repeatability across different brain regions.
- Image smoothing can enhance the repeatability of volumetric measurements, especially in specific areas like the orbital gyrus.
- These findings support the use of smoothed images to improve the reliability of atlas-based brain volume analysis.
