Harmonized Protocol for Subfield Segmentation in the Hippocampal Body on High-Resolution In Vivo MRI From the...

Area of Science:

• Neuroimaging
• Neuroanatomy
• Medical Imaging

Background:

• Hippocampal subfields show varied development, aging, and disease vulnerability.
• Inconsistent segmentation protocols hinder comparisons in high-resolution MRI research.
• The Hippocampal Subfields Group (HSG) aims to standardize protocols.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a reliable, histology-based MRI segmentation protocol for human hippocampal subfields.
• To focus on defining boundaries within the hippocampal body.

Main Methods:

• Developed a protocol using a novel histological dataset labeled by expert neuroanatomists.
• Engaged the research community through surveys, feasibility testing, and consensus via Delphi procedure.
• Defined internal and external boundaries of the hippocampal body subfields.

Main Results:

• Achieved high clarity and consensus on boundary definitions.
• The harmonized protocol demonstrated high inter- and intra-rater reliability.
• Detailed segmentation procedures for manual use were reported.

Conclusions:

• The standardized protocol for the hippocampal body facilitates cross-study comparisons.
• This harmonization will enhance insights into hippocampal structure and function across the lifespan and in disease.
• Further protocols for the hippocampal head and tail are in development.