Repository logo
 

Comparison of arterial spin labeling registration strategies in the multi-center GENetic frontotemporal dementia initiative (GENFI).

Accepted version
Peer-reviewed

No Thumbnail Available

Type

Article

Change log

Authors

Mutsaerts, Henri JMM  ORCID logo  https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0894-0307
Petr, Jan 
Thomas, David L 
De Vita, Enrico 
Cash, David M 

Abstract

PURPOSE: To compare registration strategies to align arterial spin labeling (ASL) with 3D T1-weighted (T1w) images, with the goal of reducing the between-subject variability of cerebral blood flow (CBF) images. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Multi-center 3T ASL data were collected at eight sites with four different sequences in the multi-center GENetic Frontotemporal dementia Initiative (GENFI) study. In a total of 48 healthy controls, we compared the following image registration options: (I) which images to use for registration (perfusion-weighted images [PWI] to the segmented gray matter (GM) probability map (pGM) (CBF-pGM) or M0 to T1w (M0-T1w); (II) which transformation to use (rigid-body or non-rigid); and (III) whether to mask or not (no masking, M0-based FMRIB software library Brain Extraction Tool [BET] masking). In addition to visual comparison, we quantified image similarity using the Pearson correlation coefficient (CC), and used the Mann-Whitney U rank sum test. RESULTS: CBF-pGM outperformed M0-T1w (CC improvement 47.2% ± 22.0%; P < 0.001), and the non-rigid transformation outperformed rigid-body (20.6% ± 5.3%; P < 0.001). Masking only improved the M0-T1w rigid-body registration (14.5% ± 15.5%; P = 0.007). CONCLUSION: The choice of image registration strategy impacts ASL group analyses. The non-rigid transformation is promising but requires validation. CBF-pGM rigid-body registration without masking can be used as a default strategy. In patients with expansive perfusion deficits, M0-T1w may outperform CBF-pGM in sequences with high effective spatial resolution. BET-masking only improves M0-T1w registration when the M0 image has sufficient contrast. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 1 Technical Efficacy: Stage 1 J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2018;47:131-140.

Description

Keywords

arterial spin labeling, cerebral blood flow, image registration, Adult, Arteries, Brain, Cerebrovascular Circulation, Female, Frontotemporal Dementia, Gray Matter, Humans, Image Processing, Computer-Assisted, Imaging, Three-Dimensional, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Male, Middle Aged, Perfusion, Reproducibility of Results, Spin Labels, Young Adult

Journal Title

J Magn Reson Imaging

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

1053-1807
1522-2586

Volume Title

47

Publisher

Wiley
Sponsorship
Wellcome Trust (103838/Z/14/Z)
Medical Research Council (MR/J009482/1)
Medical Research Council (MR/M009041/1)
Medical Research Council (MC_U105597119)
Medical Research Council (MR/M024873/1)
Medical Research Council (MC_UU_00005/12)