Li Chen1, Stephen R Dager2, Dennis W W Shaw3, Neva M Corrigan4, Mahmud Mossa-Basha5, Kristi D Pimentel6, Natalia M Kleinhans7, Patricia K Kuhl8, Jenq-Neng Hwang9, Chun Yuan10. 1. University of Washington, Box 358050, 850 Republican St, Rm 127, Seattle, WA, 98109-4714, United States. Electronic address: cluw@uw.edum. 2. University of Washington, Box 358050, 850 Republican St, Rm 127, Seattle, WA, 98109-4714, United States. Electronic address: srd@uw.edu. 3. University of Washington, Box 358050, 850 Republican St, Rm 127, Seattle, WA, 98109-4714, United States. Electronic address: ddshaw@uw.edu. 4. University of Washington, Box 358050, 850 Republican St, Rm 127, Seattle, WA, 98109-4714, United States. Electronic address: nevao@uw.edu. 5. University of Washington, Box 358050, 850 Republican St, Rm 127, Seattle, WA, 98109-4714, United States. Electronic address: mmossab@uw.edu. 6. University of Washington, Box 358050, 850 Republican St, Rm 127, Seattle, WA, 98109-4714, United States. Electronic address: kristidb@uw.edu. 7. University of Washington, Box 358050, 850 Republican St, Rm 127, Seattle, WA, 98109-4714, United States. Electronic address: nkleinha@uw.edu. 8. University of Washington, Box 358050, 850 Republican St, Rm 127, Seattle, WA, 98109-4714, United States. Electronic address: pkkuhl@uw.edu. 9. University of Washington, Box 358050, 850 Republican St, Rm 127, Seattle, WA, 98109-4714, United States. Electronic address: hwang@uw.edu. 10. University of Washington, Box 358050, 850 Republican St, Rm 127, Seattle, WA, 98109-4714, United States. Electronic address: cyuan@uw.edu.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Comprehensive quantification of intracranial vascular characteristics by vascular tracing provides an objective clinical assessment of vascular structure. However, weak signal or low contrast in small distal arteries, artifacts due to volitional motion, and vascular pulsation are challenges for accurate vessel tracing from 3D time-of-flight (3D-TOF) magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) images. NEW METHOD: A vascular measurement refinement algorithm is developed and validated for robust quantification of intracranial vasculature from 3D-TOF MRA. After automated vascular tracing, centerline positions, lumen radii and centerline deviations are jointly optimized to restrict traces to within vascular regions in the straightened curved planar reformation (CPR) views. The algorithm is validated on simulated vascular images and on repeat 3D-TOF MRA acquired from infants and adults. RESULTS: The refinement algorithm can reliably estimate vascular radius and correct deviated centerlines. For the simulated vascular image with noise level of 1 and deviation of centerline of 3, the mean radius difference is below 15.3 % for scan-rescan reliability. Vascular features from repeated clinical scans show significantly improved measurement agreement, with intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC) improvement from 0.55 to 0.7 for infants and from 0.59 to 0.92 for adults. COMPARISON WITH EXISTING METHODS: The refinement algorithm is novel because it utilizes straightened CPR views that incorporate information from the entire artery. In addition, the optimization corrects centerline positions, lumen radii and centerline deviations simultaneously. CONCLUSIONS: Intracranial vasculature quantification using a novel refinement algorithm for vascular tracing improves the reliability of vascular feature measurements in both infants and adults.
BACKGROUND: Comprehensive quantification of intracranial vascular characteristics by vascular tracing provides an objective clinical assessment of vascular structure. However, weak signal or low contrast in small distal arteries, artifacts due to volitional motion, and vascular pulsation are challenges for accurate vessel tracing from 3D time-of-flight (3D-TOF) magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) images. NEW METHOD: A vascular measurement refinement algorithm is developed and validated for robust quantification of intracranial vasculature from 3D-TOF MRA. After automated vascular tracing, centerline positions, lumen radii and centerline deviations are jointly optimized to restrict traces to within vascular regions in the straightened curved planar reformation (CPR) views. The algorithm is validated on simulated vascular images and on repeat 3D-TOF MRA acquired from infants and adults. RESULTS: The refinement algorithm can reliably estimate vascular radius and correct deviated centerlines. For the simulated vascular image with noise level of 1 and deviation of centerline of 3, the mean radius difference is below 15.3 % for scan-rescan reliability. Vascular features from repeated clinical scans show significantly improved measurement agreement, with intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC) improvement from 0.55 to 0.7 for infants and from 0.59 to 0.92 for adults. COMPARISON WITH EXISTING METHODS: The refinement algorithm is novel because it utilizes straightened CPR views that incorporate information from the entire artery. In addition, the optimization corrects centerline positions, lumen radii and centerline deviations simultaneously. CONCLUSIONS: Intracranial vasculature quantification using a novel refinement algorithm for vascular tracing improves the reliability of vascular feature measurements in both infants and adults.
Authors: Dong Kun Kim; Jared T Verdoorn; Tina M Gunderson; John Huston Iii; Waleed Brinjikji; Giuseppe Lanzino; Vance T Lehman Journal: J Neuroradiol Date: 2019-05-25 Impact factor: 3.447
Authors: Li Chen; Mahmud Mossa-Basha; Jie Sun; Daniel S Hippe; Niranjan Balu; Quan Yuan; Kristi Pimentel; Thomas S Hatsukami; Jenq-Neng Hwang; Chun Yuan Journal: Magn Reson Imaging Date: 2018-12-20 Impact factor: 2.546
Authors: Sun Hyung Kim; Vladimir S Fonov; Cheryl Dietrich; Clement Vachet; Heather C Hazlett; Rachel G Smith; Michael M Graves; Joseph Piven; John H Gilmore; Stephen R Dager; Robert C McKinstry; Sarah Paterson; Alan C Evans; D Louis Collins; Guido Gerig; Martin Andreas Styner Journal: J Neurosci Methods Date: 2012-09-29 Impact factor: 2.390