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Updated: Jun 17, 2026
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Automated Segmentation of Cortical Grey Matter from T1-Weighted MRI Images
Published on: January 7, 2019
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Differentiation of multiple system atrophy subtypes by gray matter atrophy
Anna Campabadal1,2, Alexandra Abos1, Barbara Segura1,2,3
1Medical Psychology Unit, Department of Medicine, Institute of Neuroscience, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
Summary
Structural MRI reveals distinct patterns of brain atrophy in Multiple System Atrophy subtypes. Cerebellar and basal ganglia changes help differentiate between cerebellar (MSA-C) and parkinsonian (MSA-P) phenotypes.
Area of Science:
- Neuroimaging
- Neurology
- Radiology
Background:
- Multiple system atrophy (MSA) is a rare adult-onset synucleinopathy.
- MSA presents with two main subtypes: MSA-P (predominantly parkinsonian symptoms) and MSA-C (predominantly cerebellar symptoms).
- Distinguishing between MSA subtypes is crucial for understanding disease progression and potential targeted treatments.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate structural Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) changes that can differentiate between MSA-P and MSA-C phenotypes.
- To identify specific brain regions and their volumetric/thickness alterations associated with each MSA subtype.
Main Methods:
- Utilized MRI data from 31 MSA patients (15 MSA-C, 16 MSA-P) and 39 healthy controls.
- Employed FreeSurfer for volumetric and cortical thickness measurements.
- Applied a Support Vector Machine (SVM) algorithm for classification between MSA subtypes using structural MRI data.
Main Results:
- MSA-C patients exhibited greater atrophy in the left cerebellum compared to MSA-P patients.
- MSA-P patients showed reduced volume in the bilateral pallidum and putamen.
- The SVM model achieved a balanced accuracy of 74.2% in classifying MSA subtypes, with key features including cerebellum, putamen, thalamus, and pallidum.
Conclusions:
- Differential gray matter atrophy patterns exist between MSA-C and MSA-P, even with similar disease severity and duration.
- Cerebellar atrophy is a significant differentiator, alongside contributions from thalamic and basal ganglia structures.
- Structural MRI analysis, particularly using SVM, can effectively distinguish between MSA subtypes.
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