scholarly journals Reliability of the freehand region-of-interest method in quantitative cerebral diffusion tensor imaging

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ullamari Hakulinen ◽  
Antti Brander ◽  
Tero Ilvesmäki ◽  
Mika Helminen ◽  
Juha Öhman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Diffusion Tensor Imaging ◽  
White Matter ◽  
Diffusion Tensor ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Region Of Interest ◽  
Cerebral Peduncle ◽  
Post Processing ◽  
Processing Methods ◽  
Imaging Protocol ◽  
Brain White Matter

Abstract Background Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) is a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technique used for evaluating changes in the white matter in brain parenchyma. The reliability of quantitative DTI analysis is influenced by several factors, such as the imaging protocol, pre-processing and post-processing methods, and selected diffusion parameters. The region-of-interest (ROI) method is most widely used of the post-processing methods because it is found in commercial software. The focus of our research was to study the reliability of the freehand ROI method using various intra- and inter-observer analyses. Methods This study included 40 neurologically healthy participants who underwent diffusion MRI of the brain with a 3 T scanner. The measurements were performed at nine different anatomical locations using a freehand ROI method. The data extracted from the ROIs included the regional mean values, intra- and inter-observer variability and reliability. The used DTI parameters were fractional anisotropy (FA), the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC), and axial (AD) and radial (RD) diffusivity. Results The average intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC) of the intra-observer was found to be 0.9 (excellent). The single ICC results were excellent (> 0.8) or adequate (> 0.69) in eight out of the nine regions in terms of FA and ADC. The most reliable results were found in the frontobasal regions. Significant differences between age groups were also found in the frontobasal regions. Specifically, the FA and AD values were significantly higher and the RD values lower in the youngest age group (18–30 years) compared to the other age groups. Conclusions The quantitative freehand ROI method can be considered highly reliable for the average ICC and mostly adequate for the single ICC. The freehand method is suitable for research work with a well-experienced observer. Measurements should be performed at least twice in the same region to ensure that the results are sufficiently reliable. In our study, reliability was slightly undermined by artifacts in some regions such as the cerebral peduncle and centrum semiovale. From a clinical point of view, the results are most reliable in adults under the age of 30, when age-related changes in brain white matter have not yet occurred.

scholarly journals Reliability of the Freehand Region-of-Interest Method in Quantitative Cerebral Diffusion Tensor Imaging

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ullamari Hakulinen ◽  
Antti Brander ◽  
Tero Ilvesmäki ◽  
Mika Helminen ◽  
Juha Öhman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Diffusion Tensor Imaging ◽  
White Matter ◽  
Diffusion Tensor ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Region Of Interest ◽  
Post Processing ◽  
Processing Methods ◽  
Imaging Protocol ◽  
Mean Values ◽  
Brain White Matter

Abstract Background: Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) is a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technique used for evaluating changes in the white matter in brain parenchyma. The reliability of quantitative DTI analysis is influenced by several factors, such as the imaging protocol, pre-processing and post-processing methods, and selected diffusion parameters. Of the post-processing methods, the region-of-interest (ROI) method is most widely used because it is found in commercial programs. The focus of our research was to study the reliability of the freehand ROI method using various intra- and inter-observer analyses.Methods: This study included 40 neurologically healthy participants who underwent diffusion MRI of the brain with a 3T scanner. The measurements were performed at nine different anatomical locations using a freehand ROI method. The data extracted from the ROIs included the regional mean values, intra- and inter-observer variability and reliability. The used DTI parameters were fractional anisotropy (FA), the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC), and axial (AD) and radial (RD) diffusivity.Results: The average ICC of the intra-observer was found to be 0.9 (excellent). The single ICC results were excellent (> 0.8) or adequate (> 0.69) in eight out of the nine regions in terms of FA and ADC. The most reliable results were found in the frontobasal regions. In terms of the regional mean values, significant differences between age groups were found in the frontobasal regions. Specifically, the FA and AD values were significantly higher and the RD values lower in the youngest age group (18-30 years) compared to the other age groups.Conclusions: The quantitative freehand ROI method can be considered highly reliable for the average ICC and mostly adequate for the single ICC. The freehand method is suitable for research work with a well-experienced observer. Measurements should be performed at least twice in the same region to ensure that the results are sufficiently reliable. In our study, reliability was undermined by artifacts in some regions such as the cerebral peduncle, corona radiata and centrum semiovale. From a clinical point of view, the results are most reliable in adults under the age of 30, when age-related changes in brain white matter have not yet occurred.

scholarly journals White Matter Integrity Predicts Delay Discounting Behavior in 9- to 23-Year-Olds: A Diffusion Tensor Imaging Study

2009 ◽  
Vol 21 (7) ◽  
pp. 1406-1421 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth A. Olson ◽  
Paul F. Collins ◽  
Catalina J. Hooper ◽  
Ryan Muetzel ◽  
Kelvin O. Lim ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Diffusion Tensor Imaging ◽  
White Matter ◽  
Delay Discounting ◽  
Diffusion Tensor ◽  
Mean Diffusivity ◽  
Imaging Study ◽  
Temporal Lobes ◽  
Brain White Matter ◽  
Independent Effects ◽  
Age Range

Healthy participants (n = 79), ages 9–23, completed a delay discounting task assessing the extent to which the value of a monetary reward declines as the delay to its receipt increases. Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) was used to evaluate how individual differences in delay discounting relate to variation in fractional anisotropy (FA) and mean diffusivity (MD) within whole-brain white matter using voxel-based regressions. Given that rapid prefrontal lobe development is occurring during this age range and that functional imaging studies have implicated the prefrontal cortex in discounting behavior, we hypothesized that differences in FA and MD would be associated with alterations in the discounting rate. The analyses revealed a number of clusters where less impulsive performance on the delay discounting task was associated with higher FA and lower MD. The clusters were located primarily in bilateral frontal and temporal lobes and were localized within white matter tracts, including portions of the inferior and superior longitudinal fasciculi, anterior thalamic radiation, uncinate fasciculus, inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus, corticospinal tract, and splenium of the corpus callosum. FA increased and MD decreased with age in the majority of these regions. Some, but not all, of the discounting/DTI associations remained significant after controlling for age. Findings are discussed in terms of both developmental and age-independent effects of white matter organization on discounting behavior.

Human Brain Diffusion Tensor Imaging Visualization With Virtual Reality

2010 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bin Chen ◽  
John Moreland
Keyword(s):  
Virtual Reality ◽  
Diffusion Tensor Imaging ◽  
White Matter ◽  
Diffusion Tensor ◽  
Biological Tissues ◽  
Head Tracking ◽  
Fiber Tractography ◽  
Brain White Matter ◽  
Diffusion Tensors ◽  
Visualization Techniques

Magnetic resonance diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) is sensitive to the anisotropic diffusion of water exerted by its macromolecular environment and has been shown useful in characterizing structures of ordered tissues such as the brain white matter, myocardium, and cartilage. The water diffusivity inside of biological tissues is characterized by the diffusion tensor, a rank-2 symmetrical 3×3 matrix, which consists of six independent variables. The diffusion tensor contains much information of diffusion anisotropy. However, it is difficult to perceive the characteristics of diffusion tensors by looking at the tensor elements even with the aid of traditional three dimensional visualization techniques. There is a need to fully explore the important characteristics of diffusion tensors in a straightforward and quantitative way. In this study, a virtual reality (VR) based MR DTI visualization with high resolution anatomical image segmentation and registration, ROI definition and neuronal white matter fiber tractography visualization and fMRI activation map integration is proposed. The VR application will utilize brain image visualization techniques including surface, volume, streamline and streamtube rendering, and use head tracking and wand for navigation and interaction, the application will allow the user to switch between different modalities and visualization techniques, as well making point and choose queries. The main purpose of the application is for basic research and clinical applications with quantitative and accurate measurements to depict the diffusivity or the degree of anisotropy derived from the diffusion tensor.

scholarly journals Diffusion Tensor Imaging Mapping of Brain White Matter Pathology in Mitochondrial Optic Neuropathies

2015 ◽  
Vol 36 (7) ◽  
pp. 1259-1265 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. N. Manners ◽  
G. Rizzo ◽  
C. La Morgia ◽  
C. Tonon ◽  
C. Testa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Diffusion Tensor Imaging ◽  
White Matter ◽  
Diffusion Tensor ◽  
Brain White Matter ◽  
White Matter Pathology

scholarly journals Diffusion Tensor Imaging Assessment of Brain White Matter Maturation During the First Postnatal Year

2007 ◽  
Vol 189 (2) ◽  
pp. 476-486 ◽  
Author(s):  
James M. Provenzale ◽  
Luxia Liang ◽  
David DeLong ◽  
Leonard E. White
Keyword(s):  
Diffusion Tensor Imaging ◽  
White Matter ◽  
Diffusion Tensor ◽  
Brain White Matter ◽  
White Matter Maturation

scholarly journals Altered microstructure of brain white matter in females with anorexia nervosa: a diffusion tensor imaging study

2017 ◽  
Vol Volume 13 ◽  
pp. 2829-2836 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shaohua Hu ◽  
Hong Feng ◽  
Tingting Xu ◽  
Haorong Zhang ◽  
Zhiyong Zhao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Anorexia Nervosa ◽  
Diffusion Tensor Imaging ◽  
White Matter ◽  
Diffusion Tensor ◽  
Imaging Study ◽  
Brain White Matter ◽  
Diffusion Tensor Imaging Study

scholarly journals A diffusion tensor imaging study of structural dysconnectivity in never-medicated, first-episode schizophrenia

2007 ◽  
Vol 38 (6) ◽  
pp. 877-885 ◽  
Author(s):  
V. Cheung ◽  
C. Cheung ◽  
G. M. McAlonan ◽  
Y. Deng ◽  
J. G. Wong ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Diffusion Tensor Imaging ◽  
White Matter ◽  
Corpus Callosum ◽  
Diffusion Tensor ◽  
Structural Connectivity ◽  
First Episode ◽  
Cerebral Peduncle ◽  
Healthy Controls ◽  
Subcortical Region ◽  
First Episode Schizophrenia

BackgroundDiffusion tensor imaging (DTI) can be used to investigate cerebral structural connectivity in never-medicated individuals with first-episode schizophrenia.MethodSubjects with first-episode schizophrenia according to DSM-IV-R who had never been exposed to antipsychotic medication (n=25) and healthy controls (n=26) were recruited. Groups were matched for age, gender, best parental socio-economic status and ethnicity. All subjects underwent DTI and structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans. Voxel-based analysis was performed to investigate brain regions where fractional anisotropy (FA) values differed significantly between groups. A confirmatory region-of-interest (ROI) analysis of FA scores was performed in which regions were placed blind to group membership.ResultsIn patients, FA values significantly lower than those in healthy controls were located in the left fronto-occipital fasciculus, left inferior longitudinal fasciculus, white matter adjacent to right precuneus, splenium of corpus callosum, right posterior limb of internal capsule, white matter adjacent to right substantia nigra, and left cerebral peduncle. ROI analysis of the corpus callosum confirmed that the patient group had significantly lower mean FA values than the controls in the splenium but not in the genu. The intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC) for independent ROI measurements was 0.90 (genu) and 0.90 (splenium). There were no regions where FA values were significantly higher in the patients than in the healthy controls.ConclusionsWidespread structural dysconnectivity, including the subcortical region, is already present in neuroleptic-naive patients in their first episode of illness.

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