A computational framework to quantify tissue microstructural integrity using conventional MRI macrostructural volumetry.

In this work, we present a framework to fuse and quantify tissue microstructural attributes (e.g. diffusion, functional, relaxation and perfusion MRI) using high spatial resolution T1-weighted volumetric measurements. The proposed computational procedures can be implemented by utilizing advanced, image segmentation, registration and diffusion tensor image processing software. Feasibility of the framework is also demonstrated using in-house developed software and freely available software such as FreeSurfer for regional tissue segmentation, Advanced Normalization Tools (ANTs) for registration and DTIStudio for fiber tracking and diffusion tensor data processing. We also demonstrate the application of these methods in the provision of quality control measures to assess the fidelity of tissue segmentation and multi-modal MRI registration. 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.