Harmonization of slice thickness through resampling improves comparability of MRI-derived neonatal brain volumes
Frontiers in Radiology, vol. 6, pp. 1868602
Abstract
Purpose: To assess reliability and agreement of brain volume measurements from neonatal T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans acquired with different slice thickness settings (i.e., 2 mm, 3 mm and 3 mm resampled). Methods: We used term-equivalent (38-45 weeks postmenstrual age) T2-weighted MRI scans with slice thicknesses of 2 mm and 3 mm from a subset of 40 preterm and term infants (27-40 weeks' gestation) from two existing neonatal imaging cohorts. Resampling of the 2 mm scans to a 3 mm grid provided a third set of scans, referred to as "3 mm resampled". Automated brain segmentation provided intracranial volume, total brain volume, and volumes for eight brain structures. Reliability and agreement of volume measurements were assessed using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) and Bland-Altman plots, respectively. Results: For all volumes, inter-scan reliability was higher for 3 mm vs. 3 mm resampled scans (mean observer ICC >0.92) compared to 2 mm vs. 3 mm scans (mean observer ICC >0.87). Bland-Altman plots revealed smaller mean volume differences between 3 mm and 3 mm resampled scans than between 2 mm and 3 mm scans. However, a proportional bias was found for deep gray matter volume for 3 mm vs. 3 mm resampled scans. Conclusion: Slice thickness influences brain volume measurements from neonatal MRI. Harmonization of imaging data acquired with different settings through image resampling improves reliability and agreement of brain volume measurements.
Authors 11
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University of Calgary · University Medical Center Utrecht · Isala
Affiliation as printed
Department of Pediatrics, Section of Newborn Critical Care, University of Calgary
Department of Radiology, Isala Hospital
Image Sciences Institute, University Medical Center Utrecht
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University Medical Center Utrecht · Isala
Affiliation as printed
Department of Radiology, Isala Hospital
Division of Imaging and Oncology, University Medical Center Utrecht
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University Medical Center Utrecht
Affiliation as printed
Image Sciences Institute, University Medical Center Utrecht
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Affiliation as printed
Department of Radiology, Isala Hospital
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Affiliation as printed
Department of Pediatrics, Section of Newborn Critical Care, University of Calgary
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Affiliation as printed
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Calgary
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Affiliation as printed
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Calgary
Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Calgary
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Affiliation as printed
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Calgary
Departments of Community Health Sciences and Medicine, University of Calgary
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University Medical Center Utrecht · Cardiff University
Affiliation as printed
CUBRIC, School of Physics and Astronomy, Cardiff University
Image Sciences Institute, University Medical Center Utrecht
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Gerda Meijler Aachen Department of Pediatrics Division of Neonatology, Leiden University Medical Center
Leiden University Medical Center
Affiliation as printed
Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatology, Leiden University Medical Center
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Affiliation as printed
Department of Pediatrics, Section of Newborn Critical Care, University of Calgary
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