Erschienen in:
30.04.2018 | Magnetic Resonance
Reliable and fast volumetry of the lumbar spinal cord using cord image analyser (Cordial)
verfasst von:
Charidimos Tsagkas, Anna Altermatt, Ulrike Bonati, Simon Pezold, Julia Reinhard, Michael Amann, Philippe Cattin, Jens Wuerfel, Dirk Fischer, Katrin Parmar, Arne Fischmann
Erschienen in:
European Radiology
|
Ausgabe 11/2018
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Abstract
Objective
To validate the precision and accuracy of the semi-automated cord image analyser (Cordial) for lumbar spinal cord (SC) volumetry in 3D T1w MRI data of healthy controls (HC).
Materials and methods
40 3D T1w images of 10 HC (w/m: 6/4; age range: 18–41 years) were acquired at one 3T-scanner in two MRI sessions (time interval 14.9±6.1 days). Each subject was scanned twice per session, allowing determination of test-retest reliability both in back-to-back (intra-session) and scan-rescan images (inter-session). Cordial was applied for lumbar cord segmentation twice per image by two raters, allowing for assessment of intra- and inter-rater reliability, and compared to a manual gold standard.
Results
While manually segmented volumes were larger (mean: 2028±245 mm3 vs. Cordial: 1636±300 mm3, p<0.001), accuracy assessments between manually and semi-automatically segmented images showed a mean Dice-coefficient of 0.88±0.05. Calculation of within-subject coefficients of variation (COV) demonstrated high intra-session (1.22–1.86%), inter-session (1.26–1.84%), as well as intra-rater (1.73–1.83%) reproducibility. No significant difference was shown between intra- and inter-session reproducibility or between intra-rater reliabilities. Although inter-rater reproducibility (COV: 2.87%) was slightly lower compared to all other reproducibility measures, between rater consistency was very strong (intraclass correlation coefficient: 0.974).
Conclusion
While under-estimating the lumbar SCV, Cordial still provides excellent inter- and intra-session reproducibility showing high potential for application in longitudinal trials.
Key Points
• Lumbar spinal cord segmentation using the semi-automated cord image analyser (Cordial) is feasible.
• Lumbar spinal cord is 40-mm cord segment 60 mm above conus medullaris.
• Cordial provides excellent inter- and intra-session reproducibility in lumbar spinal cord region.
• Cordial shows high potential for application in longitudinal trials.