Purpose

To validate the use of synthetic magnetic resonance imaging (SyMRI) volumetry by comparing with child-optimized SPM 12 volumetry in 3 T pediatric neuroimaging.

Methods

In total, 106 children aged 4.7–18.7 years who underwent both synthetic and 3D T1-weighted imaging and had no abnormal imaging/neurologic findings were included for the SyMRI vs. SPM T1-only segmentation (SPM T1). Forty of the 106 children who underwent an additional 3D T2-weighted imaging were included for the SyMRI vs. SPM multispectral segmentation (SPM multi). SPM segmentation using an age-appropriate atlas and inverse-transforming template-space intracranial mask was compared with SyMRI segmentation. Volume differences between SyMRI and SPM T1 were plotted against age to evaluate the influence of age on volume difference.

Results

Measurements derived from SyMRI and two SPM methods showed excellent agreements and strong correlations except for the CSF volume (CSFV) (intraclass correlation coefficients = 0.87–0.98; r = 0.78–0.96; relative volume difference other than CSFV = 6.8–18.5% [SyMRI vs. SPM T1] and 11.3–22.7% [SyMRI vs. SPM multi]). Dice coefficients of all brain tissues (except CSF) were in the range 0.78–0.91. The Bland–Altman plot and age-related volume difference change suggested that the volume differences between the two methods were influenced by the volume of each brain tissue and subject’s age (p < 0.05).

Conclusion

SyMRI and SPM segmentation results were consistent except for CSFV, which supports routine clinical use of SyMRI-based volumetry in pediatric neuroimaging. However, caution should be taken in the interpretation of the CSF segmentation results.

中文翻译：

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3 T儿童基于合成MRI的全脑体积分割的临床适应：与改进的SPM分割方法的比较

目的

通过与儿童优化的 SPM 12 体积法在 3 T 儿科神经影像学中的比较，验证合成磁共振成像 (SyMRI) 体积法的使用。

方法

总共有 106 名 4.7-18.7 岁的儿童接受了合成和 3D T1 加权成像，并且没有异常成像/神经系统发现，被纳入 SyMRI 与仅 SPM T1 分割（SPM T1）。在接受额外 3D T2 加权成像的 106 名儿童中，有 40 名被纳入 SyMRI 与 SPM 多光谱分割 (SPM multi)。将使用适合年龄的图谱和逆变换模板空间颅内掩模的 SPM 分割与 SyMRI 分割进行了比较。将 SyMRI 和 SPM T1 之间的体积差异与年龄作图，以评估年龄对体积差异的影响。

结果

来自 SyMRI 和两种 SPM 方法的测量结果显示出良好的一致性和强相关性，除了 CSF 体积 (CSFV)（组内相关系数 = 0.87–0.98；r  = 0.78–0.96；CSFV 以外的相对体积差异 = 6.8–18.5% [SyMRI与 SPM T1] 和 11.3–22.7% [SyMRI 与 SPM 多]）。所有脑组织（CSF除外）的骰子系数在0.78-0.91范围内。Bland-Altman 图和年龄相关的体积差异变化表明，两种方法的体积差异受每个脑组织体积和受试者年龄的影响（p  < 0.05）。

结论

SyMRI 和 SPM 分割结果是一致的，除了 CSFV，它支持基于 SyMRI 的体积测量在儿科神经影像学中的常规临床使用。但是，在解释 CSF 分割结果时应谨慎。