Intra-Rater and Inter-Rater Reliability of Brain Surface Intensity Model (BSIM)-Based Cortical Thickness Analysis Using 3T MRI.
10.13104/imri.2015.19.3.168
- Author:
Ji Young JEON
1
;
Won Jin MOON
;
Yeon Sil MOON
;
Seol Heui HAN
Author Information
1. Department of Radiology, Konkuk University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. mdmoonwj@kuh.ac.kr
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Volumetry;
Cortical thickness;
Magnetic resonance (MR);
Alzheimer's disease (AD)
- MeSH:
Adult;
Aged;
Atrophy;
Brain*;
Cerebellum;
Humans;
Magnetic Resonance Imaging*;
Skull
- From:Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
2015;19(3):168-177
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
PURPOSE: Brain surface intensity model (BSIM)-based cortical thickness analysis does not require complicated 3D segmentation of brain gray/white matters. Instead, this technique uses the local intensity profile to compute cortical thickness. The aim of the present study was to evaluate intra-rater and inter-rater reliability of BSIM-based cortical thickness analysis using images from elderly participants. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifteen healthy elderly participants (ages, 55-84 years) were included in this study. High-resolution 3D T1-spoiled gradient recalled-echo (SPGR) images were obtained using 3T MRI. BSIM-based processing steps included an inhomogeneity correction, intensity normalization, skull stripping, atlas registration, extraction of intensity profiles, and calculation of cortical thickness. Processing steps were automatic, with the exception of semiautomatic skull stripping. Individual cortical thicknesses were compared to a database indicating mean cortical thickness of healthy adults, in order to produce Z-score thinning maps. Intra-class correlation coefficients (ICCs) were calculated in order to evaluate inter-rater and intra-rater reliabilities. RESULTS: ICCs for intra-rater reliability were excellent, ranging from 0.751-0.940 in brain regions except the right occipital, left anterior cingulate, and left and right cerebellum (ICCs = 0.65-0.741). Although ICCs for inter-rater reliability were fair to excellent in most regions, poor inter-rater correlations were observed for the cingulate and occipital regions. Processing time, including manual skull stripping, was 17.07 +/- 3.43 min. Z-score maps for all participants indicated that cortical thicknesses were not significantly different from those in the comparison databases of healthy adults. CONCLUSION: BSIM-based cortical thickness measurements provide acceptable intra-rater and inter-rater reliability. We therefore suggest BSIM-based cortical thickness analysis as an adjunct clinical tool to detect cortical atrophy.
