TY - JOUR
T1 - Inter- and Intra-Scanner Variability of Automated Brain Volumetry on Three Magnetic Resonance Imaging Systems in Alzheimer's Disease and Controls
AU - Wittens, Mandy Melissa Jane
AU - Allemeersch, Gert-Jan
AU - Sima, Diana Maria
AU - Naeyaert, Maarten
AU - Vanderhasselt, Tim
AU - Vanbinst, Anne-Marie
AU - Buls, Nico
AU - De Brucker, Yannick
AU - Raeymaekers, Hubert
AU - Fransen, Erik
AU - Smeets, Dirk
AU - van Hecke, Wim
AU - Nagels, Guy
AU - Bjerke, Maria
AU - de Mey, Johan
AU - Engelborghs, Sebastiaan
AU - Vanbinst, A
N1 - Copyright © 2021 Wittens, Allemeersch, Sima, Naeyaert, Vanderhasselt, Vanbinst, Buls, De Brucker, Raeymaekers, Fransen, Smeets, van Hecke, Nagels, Bjerke, de Mey and Engelborghs.
PY - 2021/10/7
Y1 - 2021/10/7
N2 - Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) has become part of the clinical routine for diagnosing neurodegenerative disorders. Since acquisitions are performed at multiple centers using multiple imaging systems, detailed analysis of brain volumetry differences between MRI systems and scan-rescan acquisitions can provide valuable information to correct for different MRI scanner effects in multi-center longitudinal studies. To this end, five healthy controls and five patients belonging to various stages of the AD continuum underwent brain MRI acquisitions on three different MRI systems (Philips Achieva dStream 1.5T, Philips Ingenia 3T, and GE Discovery MR750w 3T) with harmonized scan parameters. Each participant underwent two subsequent MRI scans per imaging system, repeated on three different MRI systems within 2 h. Brain volumes computed by icobrain dm (v5.0) were analyzed using absolute and percentual volume differences, Dice similarity (DSC) and intraclass correlation coefficients, and coefficients of variation (CV). Harmonized scans obtained with different scanners of the same manufacturer had a measurement error closer to the intra-scanner performance. The gap between intra- and inter-scanner comparisons grew when comparing scans from different manufacturers. This was observed at image level (image contrast, similarity, and geometry) and translated into a higher variability of automated brain volumetry. Mixed effects modeling revealed a significant effect of scanner type on some brain volumes, and of the scanner combination on DSC. The study concluded a good intra- and inter-scanner reproducibility, as illustrated by an average intra-scanner (inter-scanner) CV below 2% (5%) and an excellent overlap of brain structure segmentation (mean DSC > 0.88).
AB - Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) has become part of the clinical routine for diagnosing neurodegenerative disorders. Since acquisitions are performed at multiple centers using multiple imaging systems, detailed analysis of brain volumetry differences between MRI systems and scan-rescan acquisitions can provide valuable information to correct for different MRI scanner effects in multi-center longitudinal studies. To this end, five healthy controls and five patients belonging to various stages of the AD continuum underwent brain MRI acquisitions on three different MRI systems (Philips Achieva dStream 1.5T, Philips Ingenia 3T, and GE Discovery MR750w 3T) with harmonized scan parameters. Each participant underwent two subsequent MRI scans per imaging system, repeated on three different MRI systems within 2 h. Brain volumes computed by icobrain dm (v5.0) were analyzed using absolute and percentual volume differences, Dice similarity (DSC) and intraclass correlation coefficients, and coefficients of variation (CV). Harmonized scans obtained with different scanners of the same manufacturer had a measurement error closer to the intra-scanner performance. The gap between intra- and inter-scanner comparisons grew when comparing scans from different manufacturers. This was observed at image level (image contrast, similarity, and geometry) and translated into a higher variability of automated brain volumetry. Mixed effects modeling revealed a significant effect of scanner type on some brain volumes, and of the scanner combination on DSC. The study concluded a good intra- and inter-scanner reproducibility, as illustrated by an average intra-scanner (inter-scanner) CV below 2% (5%) and an excellent overlap of brain structure segmentation (mean DSC > 0.88).
KW - Alzheimer’s disease
KW - automated volumetry
KW - biomarkers
KW - inter- and intra-scanner variability
KW - magnetic resonance imaging
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85117620473&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.3389/fnagi.2021.746982
DO - 10.3389/fnagi.2021.746982
M3 - Article
C2 - 34690745
VL - 13
JO - Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience
JF - Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience
SN - 1663-4365
M1 - 746982
ER -