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C Barillot

Publications and source records attributed to C Barillot.

11 recordsLinked to original sources

Interindividual functional mapping: a nonlinear local approach.

Within the scope of three-dimensional brain imaging, we propose an interindividual fusion scheme to register functional activations according to anatomical cortical structures, the sulci. This paper is based on the assumption that an important part of functional intersubject variability is encoded in anatomical variability. The aim of this paper is therefore to propose a generic framework to register functional activations according to the relevant anatomical landmarks. Compared to "classical" interindividual fusion schemes, this approach is local. It relies on a statistical sulci shape model accounting for the interindividual variability of a population of subjects and providing deformation modes relative to a reference shape (a mean sulcus). The deformation field obtained between a given sulcus and the reference sulcus is extended to a neighborhood of the given sulcus by using the thin-plate spline interpolation. It is then applied to functional activations located in the vicinity of this sulcus. This approach is compared with rigid and nonrigid registration methods. In this paper, we present results on MEG somatosensory data acquired on 18 subjects. We show that the nonlinear local fusion scheme significantly reduces the observed functional variability.

Adult↗

Retrospective evaluation of intersubject brain registration.

Although numerous methods to register brains of different individuals have been proposed, no work has been done, as far as we know, to evaluate and objectively compare the performances of different nonrigid (or elastic) registration methods on the same database of subjects. In this paper, we propose an evaluation framework, based on global and local measures of the relevance of the registration. We have chosen to focus more particularly on the matching of cortical areas, since intersubject registration methods are dedicated to anatomical and functional normalization, and also because other groups have shown the relevance of such registration methods for deep brain structures. Experiments were conducted using 6 methods on a database of 18 subjects. The global measures used show that the quality of the registration is directly related to the transformation's degrees of freedom. More surprisingly, local measures based on the matching of cortical sulci did not show significant differences between rigid and non rigid methods.

Adult↗

Segmentation of brain 3D MR images using level sets and dense registration.

This paper presents a strategy for the segmentation of brain from volumetric MR images which integrates 3D segmentation and 3D registration processes. The segmentation process is based on the level set formalism. A closed 3D surface propagates towards the desired boundaries through the iterative evolution of a 4D implicit function. In this work, the propagation relies on a robust evolution model including adaptive parameters. These depend on the input data and on statistical distribution models. The main contribution of this paper is the use of an automatic registration method to initialize the surface, as an alternative solution to manual initialization. The registration is achieved through a robust multiresolution and multigrid minimization scheme. This coupling significantly improves the quality of the method, since the segmentation is faster, more reliable and fully automatic. Quantitative and qualitative results on both synthetic and real volumetric brain MR images are presented and discussed.

Algorithms↗

Hierarchical estimation of a dense deformation field for 3-D robust registration.

A new method for medical image registration is formulated as a minimization problem involving robust estimators. We propose an efficient hierarchical optimization framework which is both multiresolution and multigrid. An anatomical segmentation of the cortex is introduced in the adaptive partitioning of the volume on which the multigrid minimization is based. This allows to limit the estimation to the areas of interest, to accelerate the algorithm, and to refine the estimation in specified areas. At each stage of the hierarchical estimation, we refine current estimate by seeking a piecewise affine model for the incremental deformation field. The performance of this method is numerically evaluated on simulated data and its benefits and robustness are shown on a database of 18 magnetic resonance imaging scans of the head.

Computer Simulation↗

Statistical sulcal shape comparisons: application to the detection of genetic encoding of the central sulcus shape.

Principal Component Analysis allows a quantitative description of shape variability with a restricted number of parameters (or modes) which can be used to quantify the difference between two shapes through the computation of a modal distance. A statistical test can then be applied to this set of measurements in order to detect a statistically significant difference between two groups. We have applied this methodology to highlight evidence of genetic encoding of the shape of neuroanatomical structures. To investigate genetic constraint, we studied if shapes were more similar within 10 pairs of monozygotic twins than within interpairs and compared the results with those obtained from 10 pairs of dizygotic twins. The statistical analysis was performed using a Mantel permutation test. We show, using simulations, that this statistical test applied on modal distances can detect a possible genetic encoding. When applied to real data, this study highlighted genetic constraints on the shape of the central sulcus. We found from 10 pairs of monozygotic twins that the intrapair modal distance of the central sulcus was significantly smaller than the interpair modal distance, for both the left central sulcus (Z = -2.66; P < 0.005) and the right central sulcus (Z = -2.26; P < 0.05). Genetic constraints on the definition of the central sulcus shape were confirmed by applying the same experiment to 10 pairs of normal young individuals (Z = -1.39; Z = -0.63, i.e., values not significant at the P < 0.05 level) and 10 pairs of dizygotic twins (Z = 0.47; Z = 0.03, i.e., values not significant at the P < 0.05 level).

Adult↗

Automated extraction and variability analysis of sulcal neuroanatomy.

Systematic mapping of the variability in cortical sulcal anatomy is an area of increasing interest which presents numerous methodological challenges. To address these issues, we have implemented sulcal extraction and assisted labeling (SEAL) to automatically extract the two-dimensional (2-D) surface ribbons that represent the median axis of cerebral sulci and to neuroanatomically label these entities. To encode the extracted three-dimensional (3-D) cortical sulcal schematic topography (CSST) we define a relational graph structure composed of two main features: vertices (representing sulci) and arcs (representing the relationships between sulci). Vertices contain a parametric representation of the surface ribbon buried within the sulcus. Points on this surface are expressed in stereotaxic coordinates (i.e., with respect to a standardized brain coordinate system). For each of these vertices, we store length, depth, and orientation as well as anatomical attributes (e.g., hemisphere, lobe, sulcus type, etc.). Each arc stores the 3-D location of the junction between sulci as well as a list of its connecting sulci. Sulcal labeling is performed semiautomatically by selecting a sulcal entity in the CSST and selecting from a menu of candidate sulcus names. In order to help the user in the labeling task, the menu is restricted to the most likely candidates by using priors for the expected sulcal spatial distribution. These priors, i.e., sulcal probabilistic maps, were created from the spatial distribution of 34 sulci traced manually on 36 different subjects. Given these spatial probability maps, the user is provided with the likelihood that the selected entity belongs to a particular sulcus. The cortical structure representation obtained by SEAL is suitable to extract statistical information about both the spatial and the structural composition of the cerebral cortical topography. This methodology allows for the iterative construction of a successively more complete statistical models of the cerebral topography containing spatial distributions of the most important structures, their morphometrics, and their structural components.

Algorithms↗

Data fusion in medical imaging: merging multimodal and multipatient images, identification of structures and 3D display aspects.

Data fusion in medical imaging can be seen into two ways (i) multisensors fusion of anatomical and functional information and (ii) interpatient data fusion by means of warping models. These two aspects set the methodological framework necessary to perform anatomical modelling especially when concerning the modelling of brain structures. The major relevance of the work presented here concerns the interpretation of multimodal 3D neuro-anatomical data bases. Three types of data fusion problems are considered in this paper. The first one concerns the problem of data combination which includes multimodal registration (multisensor fusion applied to CT, MRI, DSA, PET, SPECT, or MEG). In particular, the problem of warping patient data to an anatomical atlas is reviewed and a solution is proposed. The second problem of data fusion addressed in this paper is the identification of anatomical structures by means of image analysis methods. Two techniques have been developed. The first one deals with the analysis of image geometrical features to end up with the determination of a fuzzy mask to label the structure of interest. The second technique consists of labelling major cerebral structures by means of statistical image features associated with relaxation techniques. Finally, the paper presents a review of up to date 3D display techniques with a special emphasis on volume rendering and 3D display of combined data.

Algorithms↗

[Fusion of data. Multimodality in neurological imaging].

The development of tomographic imaging methods, which provide anatomical and functional information in a digital form, has transformed the approach to the central nervous system. Patient management is now frequently based on fusion of data from the same or different modalities, which potentiates the performance of each technique. These fusions were initially performed manually on film supports, but are now increasingly performed by consultation stations which process digital data bases. In view of the increasing demands for data fusion, it has become necessary to develop, in parallel with these new techniques, image transmission networks and visualisation stations on which reconstructions and fusions are performed. Improvements in software should facilitate acquisition techniques which should increasingly resemble standard techniques. The logistic applied must also be as simple as possible in order to be widely implanted and easy to use.

Central Nervous System Diseases↗

Computer graphics in medicine: a survey.

Increased interest is presently given to three-dimensional (3-D) medical applications due to simultaneous emergence of high-resolution imaging systems and computer graphics techniques. This paper intends to present a survey of this field together with discussion and prospective views. The general framework is composed of six parts: data acquisition and preprocessing, polygonal object representation, voxel description, system architecture, medical applications, and prospects. Data base acquisition includes characterization of imaging modalities and medical specificity. Preprocessing schemes are directed to improvements (filtering), windowing, and spatial anisotropy (linear or spline interpolation). The two following sections are devoted to descriptions of the main object representations. Particular emphasis is given to optimal contour approximation, surface triangulation, mathematical surfaces on one hand, and cuberille and voxel representations on the other. Display capabilities--hidden surface removal, surface normal shading, structure enhancement--and data base structuration--hierarchical and nonhierarchical (graph and tree encoding)--are, respectively, described. An overview of 3-D systems is further given (Section V), and features of medical applications are reviewed and gathered in basic functionalities, surgery, and radiotherapy specifications (Section VI). The last section provides some prospective views on reconstruction from a few projections, model-guided labeling, multimodality image overlay, and local image network. Some of these issues are illustrated by examples of 3-D images.

Computer Graphics↗

Computerized brain atlases as decision support systems: a methodological approach.

This paper deals with the development of computerized brain atlases addressing both research and clinical needs. The authors analyze in detail the potential of these systems and discuss the capabilities and limitations of the digital atlases currently being developed around the world. The authors propose to reconsider the concept of a brain atlas, regarding both its content, and the way it has to be used and managed in order to set up more effective cooperation between the user and the system. Particular emphasis is placed on extensibility and reuse issues. which are critical in this rapidly evolving field. These orientations result from both the authors' experience and the analysis of current trends in the field of neuroimaging. The general methodology is illustrated with examples related to computer aided surgical planning.

Artificial Intelligence↗

Comparison and evaluation of retrospective intermodality brain image registration techniques.

PURPOSE: The primary objective of this study is to perform a blinded evaluation of a group of retrospective image registration techniques using as a gold standard a prospective, marker-based registration method. To ensure blindedness, all retrospective registrations were performed by participants who had no knowledge of the gold standard results until after their results had been submitted. A secondary goal of the project is to evaluate the importance of correcting geometrical distortion in MR images by comparing the retrospective registration error in the rectified images, i.e., those that have had the distortion correction applied, with that of the same images before rectification. METHOD: Image volumes of three modalities (CT, MR, and PET) were obtained from patients undergoing neurosurgery at Vanderbilt University Medical Center on whom bone-implanted fiducial markers were mounted. These volumes had all traces of the markers removed and were provided via the Internet to project collaborators outside Vanderbilt, who then performed retrospective registrations on the volumes, calculating transformations from CT to MR and/ or from PET to MR. These investigators communicated their transformations again via the Internet to Vanderbilt, where the accuracy of each registration was evaluated. In this evaluation, the accuracy is measured at multiple volumes of interest (VOIs), i.e., areas in the brain that would commonly be areas of neurological interest. A VOI is defined in the MR image and its centroid c is determined. Then, the prospective registration is used to obtain the corresponding point c' in CT or PET. To this point, the retrospective registration is then applied, producing c" in MR. Statistics are gathered on the target registration error (TRE), which is the distance between the original point c and its corresponding point c". RESULTS: This article presents statistics on the TRE calculated for each registration technique in this study and provides a brief description of each technique and an estimate of both preparation and execution time needed to perform the registration. CONCLUSION: Our results indicate that retrospective techniques have the potential to produce satisfactory results much of the time, but that visual inspection is necessary to guard against large errors.

Brain↗