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A reference method for correlation of anatomic and functional brain images: validation and clinical application.

We describe a reference device that provides accurate correlation between anatomic and functional brain images. The reference device, which generates fiduciary reference points on sequential scan planes, is positioned adjacent to the canthomeatal line of the subject and held in place by a glasses-like framework anchored to the external auditory meatus. The reference system was tested on 17 subjects undergoing 99mTc hexamethylpropylene amine oxime ([99mTc]HMPAO) brain single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and cranial computed tomography (CT) scans. The centers of the caudate nuclei, thalami, brain stem, and cerebellar vermis were identified independently on CT and SPECT. The average difference +/- 1 SD between structure locations (x, y, and z) on SPECT and CT were calculated as 1.86 +/- 1.5, 2.16 +/- 1.4, and 1.83 +/- 1.9 mm, respectively. The clinical application of the method is showed by coregistration of images from SPECT to MRI. An example of sequential [99mTc]HMPAO brain SPECT scan sections precisely coregistered with MRI scan sections oriented parallel to and sequentially above the canthomeatal line illustrates the correlation between regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) tracer activity on SPECT and normal anatomic structures. Test-retest activation paradigms in brain SPECT requires precise SPECT-to-SPECT image coregistration to evaluate changes in rCBF during activation. Precisely coregistered rest, 48-hour repeat rest [99mTc]HMPAO SPECT studies are shown to illustrate the normal intrasubject variability of tracer uptake. An example of the usefulness of image coregistration for evaluation of viable residual brain tumor and its application to tumor biopsy is presented. An example of developmental abnormalities identified by [99mTc]HMPAO brain SPECT is illustrated by a case of autistic disorder. An example of image coregistration in stroke and evaluation of cerebrovascular disease with Diamox (Lederle Laboratory Division, Pearl River, NY) cerebrovasculature stress testing is presented. The usefulness in epilepsy using a protocol whereby the tracer is injected during the ictal phase of seizure is presented. We conclude that the reference system provides an accurate, rapid, and noninvasive patient-specific method for correlating brain structure with brain function.

Adolescent↗

[Ataxic cerebral palsy and brain imaging].

Five cases diagnosed as having ataxic cerebral palsy were presented with their brain imaging. Case 1, a 3-year-old-girl had been floppy since 7 months of age and began ataxic walk with spastic legs from 18 months of age. MRI revealed generalized atrophy of cerebellum (especially in anterior superior part) and slight atrophy of pons. Her mother also had ataxia with spastic legs of early onset. She and her mother were thought to have an early-onset inherited non-progressive cerebellar ataxia syndrome. Case 2, a 8-year-old-girl had ataxic walk since 17 months of age. MRI revealed cerebellar atrophy especially in anterior superior part. Case 3, a 10-year-old boy was floppy since 4 months of age and suspected as ataxic at 4 years of age. He could walk only with cruches. He had dwarfism and cataracts since 4 years of age. CT and MRI revealed generalized spino-ponto-cerebellar atrophy. Final diagnosis was Marinesco-Sjörgren syndrome. Case 4, a 10-year-old girl had opisthotonus and floppiness since 4 months of age. She could walk only with cruches. CT and MRI revealed generalized spino-ponto-cerebellar atrophy. Case 5, a 8-year-old boy showed head nodding and nystagmus since 4 months of age. He started ataxic gait at 8 years of age. He could vocalize only single sound for speech. MRI revealed cranium bifida and agenesis of anterior medullar velum. Ataxic cerebral palsy is the term often used to describe very different conditions, the clinical picture starts as hypotonia and changes into the ataxic symptoms in a few years.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Ataxia↗

Implicit brain imaging.

We describe how implicit surface representations can be used to solve fundamental problems in brain imaging. This kind of representation is not only natural following the state-of-the-art segmentation algorithms reported in the literature to extract the different brain tissues, but it is also, as shown in this paper, the most appropriate one from the computational point of view. Examples are provided for finding constrained special curves on the cortex, such as sulcal beds, regularizing surface-based measures, such as cortical thickness, and for computing warping fields between surfaces such as the brain cortex. All these result from efficiently solving partial differential equations (PDEs) and variational problems on surfaces represented in implicit form. The implicit framework avoids the need to construct intermediate mappings between 3-D anatomical surfaces and parametric objects such planes or spheres, a complex step that introduces errors and is required by many other cortical processing approaches.

Algorithms↗

SPECT functional brain imaging. Technical considerations.

The technical aspects of functional brain single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) imaging, referring primarily to the most common SPECT brain function measure--regional cerebral blood flow--are reviewed. SPECT images of regional cerebral blood flow are influenced by a number of factors unrelated to pathology, including tomographic quality, radiopharmaceuticals, environmental conditions at the time of radiotracer administration, characteristics of the subject (e.g., age, sex), image presentation, and image processing techniques. Modern SPECT scans yield excellent image quality, and instrumentation continues to improve. The armamentarium of regional cerebral blood flow and receptor radiopharmaceuticals is rapidly expanding. Standards regarding the environment for patient imaging and image presentation are emerging. However, there is still much to learn about the circumstances for performances and evaluation of SPECT functional brain imaging. Challenge tests, primarily established in cerebrovascular disease (i.e., the acetazolamide test), offer great promise in defining the extent and nature of disease, as well as predicting therapeutic responses. Clearly, SPECT brain imaging is a powerful clinical and research tool. However, SPECT will only achieve its full potential in the management of patients with cerebral pathology through close cooperation among members of the nuclear medicine, neurology, psychiatry, neurosurgery, and internal medicine specialties.

Brain↗

Two-dimensional registration of magnetic resonance brain images.

A fully automated two-dimensional image registration technique based on cross correlation is presented. This technique is evaluated using magnetic resonance images of human brain. Results indicate that this algorithm is capable of accurately estimating both linear and angular offsets.

Algorithms↗

Three-level view of fetal brain imaging in the prenatal diagnosis of congenital anomalies.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether a systematic stream-lined approach could be routinely used in the evaluation of fetal intracranial anatomy. METHODS: Nine thousand six hundred uncomplicated pregnancies were evaluated using a three-level view of fetal brain imaging. An axial scan, which passed through the level of the lateral ventricles, was first obtained. This was followed by a second view passing through the cavum septum pellucidum anteriorly, the thalami medially, and the 3rd ventricle centrally. Finally, a third view was made passing through the posterior fossa. RESULTS: Although the fetus had different presentations, we were able to fully image the fetal brain in all three levels in most cases. The intracranial anatomy could be scrutinized in most cases. Ninety-six percent of abnormal cases (126/133) were diagnosed using Levels I, II, or III independently or in combination. CONCLUSIONS: The three-level view provides a comprehensive and systematic sonographic approach to the evaluation of the fetal intracranial anatomy, and for the diagnosis of anomalous fetal brain development.

Brain↗

Structural brain imaging in schizophrenia.

The subtle pathomorphology of schizophrenia is gradually being unraveled through the application of increasingly sophisticated brain imaging techniques. There is now compelling evidence of subtle brain abnormalities in patients with schizophrenia. It less clear, however, whether these reflect a widespread cortical involvement, or more selective involvement among interconnected neural systems, or more focal pathology. The extent of brain changes, their etiopathologic significance, and putative clinical correlates are reviewed in this article.

Brain↗

Experimental hypoxemic hypoxia: effects of variation in hematocrit on magnetic resonance T2*-weighted brain images.

T2*-weighted gradient echo magnetic resonance images of rat brain were obtained dynamically during acute hypoxemic hypoxia to investigate the relations between changes in cerebral blood oxygen saturation (deltaYb), blood hematocrit (Hct), and R2* (deltaR2*). Images from hypoxemic rats with normal Hct (42.8%+/-2.33%; n=12) were compared with those from hypoxemic rats with mild (33.4%+/-1.88%; n=8) or moderate (27.14%+/-2.7%; n=10) reduction of Hct. A linear relation between deltaYb and deltaR2* was obtained for all three groups. However, the slopes of the linear regressions were statistically different from one another (P < 0.001), with the slopes of the regression lines increasing inversely with Hct; that is, the slope for normal Hct is less than the slope for mildly reduced Hct, which is less than the slope for moderately reduced Hct. These data suggest that for any given reduction in the oxygen saturation of cerebral blood, the deltaR2* will be of a lesser magnitude when the hemoglobin concentration is reduced; the data are consistent with existing theoretical models of deoxyhemoglobin content-dependent effects in T2*-weighted magnetic resonance imaging.

Animals↗

Segmentation of magnetic resonance brain images through discriminant analysis.

Segmentation (tissue classification) of medical images obtained from a magnetic resonance (MR) system is a primary step in most applications of medical image post-processing. This paper describes nonparametric discriminant analysis methods to segment multispectral MR images of the brain. Starting from routinely available spin-lattice relaxation time, spin-spin relaxation time, and proton density weighted images (T1w, T2w, PDw), the proposed family of statistical methods is based on: (i) a transform of the images into components that are statistically independent from each other; (ii) a nonparametric estimate of probability density functions of each tissue starting from a training set; (iii) a classic Bayes 0-1 classification rule. Experiments based on a computer built brain phantom (brainweb) and on eight real patient data sets are shown. A comparison with parametric discriminant analysis is also reported. The capability of nonparametric discriminant analysis in improving brain tissue classification of parametric methods is demonstrated. Finally, an assessment of the role of multispectrality in classifying brain tissues is discussed.

Brain↗

Validation of a reference method for correlation of anatomic and functional brain images.

We describe a reference device that provides accurate correlations between anatomic and functional brain images. The reference device, which generates fiduciary reference points on sequential scan planes, is positioned adjacent to the orbitomeatal line of the subject, and held in place by a framework anchored to the external auditory meatus. The reference system was tested on 17 subjects undergoing Tc-99m-hexamethylpropyleneamine oxime (Tc-99m-HM-PAO) brain single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and cranial computed tomography (CT) scans. The centers of the caudate nuclei, thalami, brain stem, and cerebellar vermis were identified independently on CT and SPECT. The average difference +/- 1 sd between structure locations (x, y, and z) on SPECT and CT were calculated as 1.86 +/- 1.5, 2.16 +/- 1.4, and 1.83 +/- 1.9 mm, respectively. The relevance of the method to clinical applications is illustrated by the localization of a recurrent viable glioma and an epileptogenic focus. This reference system provides an accurate, rapid, and noninvasive patient-specific method for the correlation of brain structure with brain function.

Brain↗

Spect brain imaging in neurologic disease.

In recent years cerebral SPECT imaging is rapidly evolving as a clinical tool in the evaluation of a variety of neurologic disorders. In large part, the major advances in brain imaging which have occurred in the last four years are related to new developments in instrumentation and radiopharmaceuticals. In particular, the increased availability of multidetector and dedicated ring detector systems has given rise to improved image resolution and more rapid patient throughput. Advances in the field of radiopharmaceutical development, particularly as it pertains to perfusion brain SPECT agents, has also contributed to the advances in the field. As a result of these developments, there has been an expanded interest in and use of brain SPECT imaging procedures in the evaluation of cerebrovascular disease, dementia, epilepsy, and head trauma.

Brain↗

In vivo approaches to quantifying and imaging brain arachidonic and docosahexaenoic acid metabolism.

A novel in vivo fatty acid method has been developed to quantify and image brain metabolism of nutritionally essential polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs). In unanesthetized rodents, a radiolabeled PUFA is injected intravenously, and its rate of incorporation into brain phospholipids is determined by chemical analysis or quantitative autoradiography. Results indicate that about 5% of brain arachidonic acid (20:4 n-6) and of docosahexaenoic acid (22:6 n-3) acid are lost daily by metabolism and are replaced from dietary sources through the plasma. Calculated turnover rates of PUFAs in brain phospholipids, due to deesterification by phospholipase A(2) (PLA(2)) followed by reesterification, are very rapid, consistent with active roles of PUFAs in signal transduction and other processes. Turnover rates of arachidonate and docosahexaenoate are independent of each other and probably are regulated by independent sets of enzymes. Brain incorporation of radiolabeled arachidonate can be imaged in response to drugs that bind to receptors coupled to PLA(2) through G proteins, thus measuring PLA(2)-initiated signal transduction. The in vivo fatty method is being extended for human studies using positron emission tomography.

Animals↗

S-values calculated from a tomographic head/brain model for brain imaging.

A tomographic head/brain model was developed from the Visible Human images and used to calculate S-values for brain imaging procedures. This model contains 15 segmented sub-regions including caudate nucleus, cerebellum, cerebral cortex, cerebral white matter, corpus callosum, eyes, lateral ventricles, lenses, lentiform nucleus, optic chiasma, optic nerve, pons and middle cerebellar peduncle, skull CSF, thalamus and thyroid. S-values for C-11, O-15, F-18, Tc-99m and I-123 have been calculated using this model and a Monte Carlo code, EGS4. Comparison of the calculated S-values with those calculated from the MIRD (1999) stylized head/brain model shows significant differences. In many cases, the stylized head/brain model resulted in smaller S-values (as much as 88%), suggesting that the doses to a specific patient similar to the Visible Man could have been underestimated using the existing clinical dosimetry.

Algorithms↗

Functional brain imaging: a window into the visuo-vestibular systems.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Advances have been made in identifying how areas involved in processing vestibular, ocular motor, and visual information are represented in the human cortex as well as the cortical interaction between these systems in healthy subjects. RECENT FINDINGS: While we know how some vestibular and ocular motor disorders modify visuo-vestibular interaction by changing the 'normal' cortical activation-deactivation patterns, it is still early days in functional magnetic resonance imaging studies of patients with specific disorders. Findings from current brain imaging studies of several vestibular, ocular motor, and cerebellar disorders are presented. SUMMARY: The promise of more insights into the complex neuronal networks of the human cortex is great.

Brain Mapping↗

Brain imaging with 123I-IMP-SPECT in migraine between attacks.

123I-IMP-SPECT brain imaging was performed in patients with classic migraine (n = 5) and migraine accompagnée (n = 18) during the headache-free interval. A regional reduction of tracer uptake into brain was observed in all patients with migraine accompagnée, while in patients with classic migraine only one case showed an area of decreased activity. The most marked alteration was found in a patient with persisting neurological symptoms ("complicated migraine"). In most cases the areas of decreased tracer uptake corresponded to headache localization as well as to topography of neurologic symptoms during migraine attacks. It may be concluded that migraine attacks occur in connection with exacerbations of preexisting changes of cerebral autoregulation due to endogenous or exogenous factors.

Adolescent↗

Pulsatile motion artifact reduction in 3D steady-state-free-precession-echo brain imaging.

An image can be made from the echo of a steady-state-free-precession and pulse sequences for this purpose have been implemented on various commercial systems under such names as "CE-FAST" and "SSFP" (herein generically termed SSFP-Echo). Such sequences can be employed to achieve strong T2-weighting with reduced T2* effects, but are limited by their sensitivity to flow and motion which produce artifacts. Simple considerations indicate that this sensitivity is primarily related to the (implementation-dependent) moments of the imaging gradients. In this work, MR imaging of the brain using a standard implementation of the sequence with large moment "crusher" gradients on the slice select axis (to dephase the FID of the SSFP) is compared to a modified implementation with reduced moment gradient pulses and different radiofrequency (RF) phase cycling. Asymmetric echo acquisition and narrowed bandwidth was used to further reduce gradient moments. The sensitivity of this sequence to flow and motion artifacts, especially for motion perpendicular to the slice, is thus expected to be significantly reduced. The modified sequence was found to have flow and motion artifacts reduced by a factor of five in the axial plane and a factor of two in the coronal plane. These modifications can thus significantly reduce the flow and motion artifacts commonly seen in conventional images of the SSFP echo with little or no penalty in scan time or signal-to-noise ratio.

Artifacts↗

Structural brain imaging in schizophrenia: a selective review.

Structural neuroimaging studies have provided some of the most consistent evidence for brain abnormalities in schizophrenia. Since the initial computed tomography study by Johnstone and co-workers, which reported lateral ventricular enlargement in schizophrenia, advances in brain imaging technology have enabled further and more refined characterization of abnormal brain structure in schizophrenia in vivo. This selective review discusses the major issues and findings in structural neuroimaging studies of schizophrenia. Among these are evidence for generalized and regional brain volume abnormalities, the specificity of anatomic findings to schizophrenia and to men versus women with schizophrenia, the contribution of genetic influences, and the timing of neuroanatomic pathology in schizophrenia. The second section reviews new approaches for examining brain structure in schizophrenia and their applications to studies on the pathophysiology of schizophrenia.

Brain↗

SPECT brain imaging in epilepsy: a meta-analysis.

UNLABELLED: A meta-analysis of SPECT brain imaging in epilepsy was performed to derive the sensitivity and specificity of interictal, postictal or ictal rCBF patterns to identify a seizure focus in medically refractory patients. METHODS: Papers were obtained by pooling all published articles identified by two independent literature searches: (a) Dialnet (EMBASE) or Radline by CD-ROM and (b) Current Contents searched manually. Literature inclusion criteria were: (a) patients had a localization-related epileptic syndrome; (b) more than six patients were reported; and (c) patients had at least an interictal EEG-documented epileptiform abnormality. Of 46 papers meeting these criteria, 30 contained extractable data. SPECT results were compared to localization by standard diagnostic evaluation and surgical outcome. Meta-analytic sensitivities for SPECT localization in patients with temporal lobe seizures relative to diagnostic evaluation were 0.44 (interictal), 0.75 (postictal) and 0.97 (ictal). Similar results were obtained relative to surgical outcome. False-positive rates were low relative to diagnostic evaluation (7.4% for interictal and 1.5% for postictal studies) and surgical outcome (4.4% for interictal and 0.0% for postictal studies). RESULTS: The results were not dependent on tracer used (or dose), the presence of CT-identified structural abnormalities, blinding of image interpretation or camera quality (although data were more variable with low-resolution cameras). There were insufficient data for conclusions regarding extratemporal-seizure or pediatric epilepsy populations. CONCLUSION: Insights gained from reviewing this literature yielded recommendations for minimal information that should be provided in future reports. Additional recommendations regarding the nature and focus of future studies also are provided. The most important of these is that institutions using SPECT imaging in epilepsy should perform ictal, preferably, or postictal scanning in combination with interictal scanning.

Brain↗