Spatial normalization discrepancies between native and MNI152 brain template scans in gamma ventral capsulotomy...

Area of Science:

• Neurosurgery
• Neuroimaging
• Computational Neuroscience

Background:

• Spatial normalization is crucial for minimizing variability in neuroimaging.
• The Montreal Neurological Institute 152 (MNI152) brain template is widely used but may cause distortions.
• Accurate targeting is vital for neurosurgical outcomes, especially in conditions like OCD.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the accuracy of the MNI152 template in representing lesion size and location in OCD patients undergoing capsulotomy.
• To compare lesion measurements in native brain scans versus standard MNI space.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 21 patients with intractable OCD who underwent capsulotomy.
• Comparison of lesion size and location between native MRI scans and MNI152 transformed scans.
• Analysis of volumetric and dimensional discrepancies across coronal and axial slices.

Main Results:

• MNI152 measurements were significantly larger than native measurements for several brain structures.
• MNI transformation proportionally increased the size of subcortical structures in both males and females.
• Discrepancies were observed in both coronal and axial imaging planes.

Conclusions:

• The MNI152 template may introduce significant size distortions, questioning its universal accuracy for neurosurgical applications.
• Caution is advised when using MNI152 as a reference space for lesion analysis in OCD patients.
• Population-specific brain templates should be considered for more accurate neuroimaging studies, particularly those examining brain networks.