Investig Magn Reson Imaging.  2015 Jun;19(2):67-75. 10.13104/imri.2015.19.2.67.

Evaluation of Hippocampal Volume Based on Various Inversion Time in Normal Adults by Manual Tracing and Automated Segmentation Methods

• Kim JH
• Choi DS
• Kim SH
• Shin HS
• Seo H
• Choi HC
• Son S
• Tae WS
• Kim SS

• KMID: 2175586
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.13104/imri.2015.19.2.67

Abstract

PURPOSE
To investigate the value of image post-processing software (FreeSurfer, IBASPM [individual brain atlases using statistical parametric mapping software]) and inversion time (TI) in volumetric analyses of the hippocampus and to identify differences in comparison with manual tracing.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Brain images from 12 normal adults were acquired using magnetization prepared rapid acquisition gradient echo (MPRAGE) with a slice thickness of 1.3 mm and TI of 800, 900, 1000, and 1100 ms. Hippocampal volumes were measured using FreeSurfer, IBASPM and manual tracing. Statistical differences were examined using correlation analyses accounting for spatial interpretations percent volume overlap and percent volume difference.
RESULTS
FreeSurfer revealed a maximum percent volume overlap and maximum percent volume difference at TI = 800 ms (77.1 +/- 2.9%) and TI = 1100 ms (13.1 +/- 2.1%), respectively. The respective values for IBASPM were TI = 1100 ms (55.3 +/- 9.1%) and TI = 800 ms (43.1 +/- 10.7%). FreeSurfer presented a higher correlation than IBASPM but it was not statistically significant.
CONCLUSIONS
FreeSurfer performed better in volumetric determination than IBASPM. Given the subjective nature of manual tracing, automated image acquisition and analysis image is accurate and preferable.

Keyword

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI); Inversion time (TI); FreeSurfer; IBASPM

MeSH Terms

Adult*
Brain
Hippocampus
Humans

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Region of interest (ROI) definition of the hippocampus in coronal views. The ROI of the hippocampus was traced manually on both sides.

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  Fig. 2 Images showing typical automated subcortical segmentation results from FreeSurfer. Different brain regions are indicated by different colors (top). Hippocampus is indicated in apple green and mauve (bottom). Total volumes are automatically extracted for each label, with values for the hemisphere.

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  Fig. 3 Brain structure parcellation obtained through individual brain atlases using statistical parametric mapping software (IBASPM). The volumes showed questionable agreement. The errors arose from inaccurate spatial normalization and frequent inaccurate registrations in the IBASPM process.

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  Fig. 4 Percent volume overlap between FreeSurfer and manual tracing is greater than the overlap between individual brain atlases using statistical parametric mapping software (IBASPM) and manual tracing. FreeSurfer and IBASPM show the opposite aspect according to TI.

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  Fig. 5 Percent volume difference between FreeSurfer and manual tracing is smaller than individual brain atlases using statistical parametric mapping software (IBASPM).

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  Fig. 6 Hippocampal volume derived from FreeSurfer segmentation is highly correlated with manual tracing.

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  Fig. 7 Hippocampal volume derived from individual brain atlases using statistical parametric mapping software (IBASPM) segmentation is correlated with manual tracing.

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  Fig. 8 Bland-Altman plot mean difference plots for hippocampal volume.

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