Improved Precision of Automatic Brain Volume Measurements in Patients with Clinically Isolated Syndrome and Multiple
J B M Warntjes1,2,3, A Tisell4,5, I Håkansson6
1From the Center for Medical Image Science and Visualization (J.B.M.W., A.T., P.L.) marcel.warntjes@cmiv.liu.se.
AJNR. American Journal of Neuroradiology
|December 16, 2017
Summary
Brain edema can affect volume measurements in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. Correcting for tissue properties like proton density improves the accuracy of automated brain volume analysis, reducing pseudoatrophy effects.
Area of Science:
- Neuroimaging
- Biomedical Engineering
- Radiology
Background:
- Edema can artificially inflate brain volume, masking atrophy in conditions like MS.
- Edema reduction can mimic accelerated brain tissue loss (pseudoatrophy).
Purpose of the Study:
- To correlate brain tissue properties with brain volume measurements.
- To investigate edema correction methods for improved automated brain volume analysis.
- To reduce the impact of pseudoatrophy in longitudinal studies.
Main Methods:
- 38 patients with clinically isolated syndrome or MS underwent MRI at baseline and 1, 2, and 4 years.
- Automated software measured brain volume, relaxation rates (R1, R2), and proton density.
- Linear regression analyzed relationships between volume changes and tissue property changes.
Main Results:
- Brain volume reduction was observed at 0.273%/year.
- Proton density changes correlated significantly with brain volume changes (P < .001).
- Applying proton density correction reduced measurement variations and the observed atrophy rate.
Conclusions:
- Brain tissue properties (R1, R2, proton density) influence brain volume measurements.
- Correction using tissue properties enhances the precision of automated brain volume analysis.
- This approach may mitigate pseudoatrophy effects in MS patients.
Related Concept Videos
01:19Cerebral Edema l: Introduction
Cerebral edema is a pathological increase in brain water content that disrupts intracranial pressure regulation and impairs neurological function. Because the cranial vault is rigid, even modest increases in tissue volume can compromise cerebral perfusion, distort neural structures, and initiate secondary injury. Cerebral edema develops through four principal mechanisms: vasogenic, cytotoxic, interstitial, and ionic.Vasogenic EdemaVasogenic edema arises from disruption of the blood–brain...
01:22Cerebral Edema ll: Pathophysiology
Vasogenic edema is a major form of cerebral edema characterized by abnormal accumulation of fluid in the brain’s extracellular space due to disruption of the blood–brain barrier (BBB). The BBB is a specialized structure composed of endothelial cells connected by tight junctions, supported by astrocytic endfeet and a basement membrane. Under normal conditions, it tightly regulates the movement of ions, proteins, and solutes between the bloodstream and brain parenchyma. When this barrier loses...