An automated procedure for the assessment of white matter hyperintensities by multispectral (T1, T2, PD) MRI and an evaluation of its between-centre reproducibility based on two large community databases
Neuroradiology. 2007-10-16; 50(1): 31-42
DOI: 10.1007/s00234-007-0312-3
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1. Neuroradiology. 2008 Jan;50(1):31-42. Epub 2007 Oct 16.
An automated procedure for the assessment of white matter hyperintensities by
multispectral (T1, T2, PD) MRI and an evaluation of its between-centre
reproducibility based on two large community databases.
Maillard P(1), Delcroix N, Crivello F, Dufouil C, Gicquel S, Joliot M,
Tzourio-Mazoyer N, Alpérovitch A, Tzourio C, Mazoyer B.
Author information:
(1)Centre d’Imagerie-Neurosciences et Applications aux Pathologies, CI-NAPS,
CNRS, CEA, Université de Caen/Université Paris Descartes, GIP Cyceron, Boulevard
Becquerel, BP 5229, 14074, Caen, France.
INTRODUCTION: An automated procedure for the detection, quantification,
localization and statistical mapping of white matter hyperintensities (WMH) on
T2-weighted magnetic resonance (MR) images is presented and validated based on
the results of a between-centre reproducibility study.
METHODS: The first step is the identification of white matter (WM) tissue using a
multispectral (T1, T2, PD) segmentation. In a second step, WMH are identified
within the WM tissue by segmenting T2 images, isolating two different classes of
WMH voxels – low- and high-contrast WMH voxels, respectively. The reliability of
the whole procedure was assessed by applying it to the analysis of two large MR
imaging databases (n = 650 and n= 710, respectively) of healthy elderly subjects
matched for demographic characteristics.
RESULTS: Average overall WMH load and spatial distribution were found to be
similar in the two samples, (1.81 and 1.79% of the WM volume, respectively).
White matter hyperintensity load was found to be significantly associated with
both age and high blood pressure, with similar effects in both samples. With
specific reference to the 650 subject cohort, we also found that WMH load
provided by this automated procedure was significantly associated with visual
grading of the severity of WMH, as assessed by a trained neurologist.
CONCLUSION: The results show that this method is sensitive, well correlated with
semi-quantitative visual rating and highly reproducible.
DOI: 10.1007/s00234-007-0312-3
PMID: 17938898 [Indexed for MEDLINE]