1
|
Luchetti L, Prados F, Cortese R, Gentile G, Calabrese M, Mortilla M, De Stefano N, Battaglini M. Evaluation of cervical spinal cord atrophy using a modified SIENA approach. Neuroimage 2024; 298:120775. [PMID: 39106936 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2024.120775] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2023] [Revised: 07/12/2024] [Accepted: 08/02/2024] [Indexed: 08/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Spinal cord (SC) atrophy obtained from structural magnetic resonance imaging has gained relevance as an indicator of neurodegeneration in various neurological disorders. The common method to assess SC atrophy is by comparing numerical differences of the cross-sectional spinal cord area (CSA) between time points. However, this indirect approach leads to considerable variability in the obtained results. Studies showed that this limitation can be overcome by using a registration-based technique. The present study introduces the Structural Image Evaluation using Normalization of Atrophy on the Spinal Cord (SIENA-SC), which is an adapted version of the original SIENA method, designed to directly calculate the percentage of SC volume change over time from clinical brain MRI acquired with an extended field of view to cover the superior part of the cervical SC. In this work, we compared SIENA-SC with the Generalized Boundary Shift Integral (GBSI) and the CSA change. On a scan-rescan dataset, SIENA-SC was shown to have the lowest measurement error than the other two methods. When comparing a group of 190 Healthy Controls with a group of 65 Multiple Sclerosis patients, SIENA-SC provided significantly higher yearly rates of atrophy in patients than in controls and a lower sample size when measured for treatment effect sizes of 50%, 30% and 10%. Our findings indicate that SIENA-SC is a robust, reproducible, and sensitive approach for assessing longitudinal changes in spinal cord volume, providing neuroscientists with an accessible and automated tool able to reduce the need for manual intervention and minimize variability in measurements.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ludovico Luchetti
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Neuroscience, University of Siena, Siena, Italy; Siena Imaging S.r.l., Siena, Italy
| | - Ferran Prados
- NMR Research Unit, Queen Square MS Centre, Department of Neuroinflammation, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, Faculty of Brain Sciences, University College London, London, United Kingdom; Center for Medical Imaging Computing, Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering Department, University College London, London, United Kingdom; e-Health Center, Universitat Oberta de Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Rosa Cortese
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Neuroscience, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | | | - Massimilano Calabrese
- Department of Neuroscience, Biomedicine and Movements, The Multiple Sclerosis Center of the University Hospital of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Marzia Mortilla
- Anna Meyer Children's University Hospital-IRCCS, Florence, Italy
| | - Nicola De Stefano
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Neuroscience, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - Marco Battaglini
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Neuroscience, University of Siena, Siena, Italy; Siena Imaging S.r.l., Siena, Italy.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Schading S, Seif M, Leutritz T, Hupp M, Curt A, Weiskopf N, Freund P. Reliability of spinal cord measures based on synthetic T 1-weighted MRI derived from multiparametric mapping (MPM). Neuroimage 2023; 271:120046. [PMID: 36948280 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2023.120046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2023] [Revised: 03/14/2023] [Accepted: 03/18/2023] [Indexed: 03/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Short MRI acquisition time, high signal-to-noise ratio, and high reliability are crucial for image quality when scanning healthy volunteers and patients. Cross-sectional cervical cord area (CSA) has been suggested as a marker of neurodegeneration and potential outcome measure in clinical trials and is conventionally measured on T1-weigthed 3D Magnetization Prepared Rapid Acquisition Gradient-Echo (MPRAGE) images. This study aims to reduce the acquisition time for the comprehensive assessment of the spinal cord, which is typically based on MPRAGE for morphometry and multi-parameter mapping (MPM) for microstructure. The MPRAGE is replaced by a synthetic T1-w MRI (synT1-w) estimated from the MPM, in order to measure CSA. SynT1-w images were reconstructed using the MPRAGE signal equation based on quantitative maps of proton density (PD), longitudinal (R1) and effective transverse (R2*) relaxation rates. The reliability of CSA measurements from synT1-w images was determined within a multi-center test-retest study format and validated against acquired MPRAGE scans by assessing the agreement between both methods. The response to pathological changes was tested by longitudinally measuring spinal cord atrophy following spinal cord injury (SCI) for synT1-w and MPRAGE using linear mixed effect models. CSA measurements based on the synT1-w MRI showed high intra-site (Coefficient of variation [CoV]: 1.43% to 2.71%) and inter-site repeatability (CoV: 2.90% to 5.76%), and only a minor deviation of -1.65 mm2 compared to MPRAGE. Crucially, by assessing atrophy rates and by comparing SCI patients with healthy controls longitudinally, differences between synT1-w and MPRAGE were negligible. These results demonstrate that reliable estimates of CSA can be obtained from synT1-w images, thereby reducing scan time significantly.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Simon Schading
- Spinal Cord Injury Center, Balgrist University Hospital, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Maryam Seif
- Spinal Cord Injury Center, Balgrist University Hospital, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland; Department of Neurophysics, Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Tobias Leutritz
- Department of Neurophysics, Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Markus Hupp
- Spinal Cord Injury Center, Balgrist University Hospital, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Armin Curt
- Spinal Cord Injury Center, Balgrist University Hospital, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Nikolaus Weiskopf
- Department of Neurophysics, Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig, Germany; Felix Bloch Institute for Solid State Physics, Faculty of Physics and Earth Sciences, Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Patrick Freund
- Spinal Cord Injury Center, Balgrist University Hospital, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland; Department of Neurophysics, Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig, Germany; Wellcome Trust Centre for Neuroimaging, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, UK.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Longitudinal assessment of cervical spinal cord compartments in multiple sclerosis. Mult Scler Relat Disord 2023; 71:104545. [PMID: 36758461 DOI: 10.1016/j.msard.2023.104545] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2022] [Revised: 01/21/2023] [Accepted: 01/31/2023] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Although cervical spinal cord (cSC) area is an established biomarker in MS, there is currently a lack of longitudinal assessments of cSC gray and white matter areas. OBJECTIVE We conducted an explorative analysis of longitudinal changes of cSC gray and white matter areas in MS patients. METHODS 65 MS patients (33 relapsing-remitting; 20 secondary progressive and 12 primary progressive) and 20 healthy controls (HC) received clinical and upper cSC MRI assessments over 1.10±0.28 years. cSC compartments were quantified on MRI using the novel averaged magnetization inversion recovery acquisitions sequence (in-plane resolution=0.67 × 0.67mm2), and in-house developed post-processing methods. Patients were stratified regarding clinical progression. RESULTS Patients with clinical progression showed faster reduction of cSC areas over time at the level of cSC enlargement (approximate vertebral level C4-C5) compared to stable patients (p<0.05). In addition, when compared to the rostral-cSC (approximate vertebral level C2-C3), a preferential reduction of cSC and white matter areas over time at the level of cSC enlargement (p<0.05 and p<0.01, respectively) was demonstrated only in patients with clinical progression, but not in stable MS patients and HC. Compared to HC, MS patients showed comparable changes over time in all cSC compartments. CONCLUSIONS MS patients with clinical disease progression demonstrate subtle signs of a more pronounced tissue loss at the level of cSC enlargement. Future studies should consider larger sample sizes and more extended observation periods.
Collapse
|
4
|
De Stefano N, Battaglini M, Pareto D, Cortese R, Zhang J, Oesingmann N, Prados F, Rocca MA, Valsasina P, Vrenken H, Gandini Wheeler-Kingshott CAM, Filippi M, Barkhof F, Rovira À. MAGNIMS recommendations for harmonization of MRI data in MS multicenter studies. Neuroimage Clin 2022; 34:102972. [PMID: 35245791 PMCID: PMC8892169 DOI: 10.1016/j.nicl.2022.102972] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2021] [Revised: 02/22/2022] [Accepted: 02/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Sharing data from cooperative studies is essential to develop new biomarkers in MS. Differences in MRI acquisition, analysis, storage represent a substantial constraint. We review the state of the art and developments in the harmonization of MRI. We provide recommendations to harmonize large MRI datasets in the MS field.
There is an increasing need of sharing harmonized data from large, cooperative studies as this is essential to develop new diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers. In the field of multiple sclerosis (MS), the issue has become of paramount importance due to the need to translate into the clinical setting some of the most recent MRI achievements. However, differences in MRI acquisition parameters, image analysis and data storage across sites, with their potential bias, represent a substantial constraint. This review focuses on the state of the art, recent technical advances, and desirable future developments of the harmonization of acquisition, analysis and storage of large-scale multicentre MRI data of MS cohorts. Huge efforts are currently being made to achieve all the requirements needed to provide harmonized MRI datasets in the MS field, as proper management of large imaging datasets is one of our greatest opportunities and challenges in the coming years. Recommendations based on these achievements will be provided here. Despite the advances that have been made, the complexity of these tasks requires further research by specialized academical centres, with dedicated technical and human resources. Such collective efforts involving different professional figures are of crucial importance to offer to MS patients a personalised management while minimizing consumption of resources.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nicola De Stefano
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Neuroscience, University of Siena, Siena, Italy.
| | - Marco Battaglini
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Neuroscience, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - Deborah Pareto
- Section of Neuroradiology, Department of Radiology, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Rosa Cortese
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Neuroscience, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - Jian Zhang
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Neuroscience, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | | | - Ferran Prados
- Queen Square Multiple Sclerosis Centre, Department of Neuroinflammation, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, United Kingdom; Center for Medical Imaging Computing, Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, UCL, London, WC1V 6LJ, United Kingdom; e-Health Center, Universitat Oberta de Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Maria A Rocca
- Neuroimaging Research Unit, Division of Neuroscience, and Neurology Unit, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy; Neurology Unit, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy; Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy
| | - Paola Valsasina
- Neuroimaging Research Unit, Division of Neuroscience, and Neurology Unit, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Hugo Vrenken
- Amsterdam Neuroscience, MS Center Amsterdam, Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Amsterdam UMC, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Claudia A M Gandini Wheeler-Kingshott
- Queen Square Multiple Sclerosis Centre, Department of Neuroinflammation, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, United Kingdom; Brain MRI 3T Research Center, C. Mondino National Neurological Institute, Pavia, Italy; Department of Brain and Behavioural Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Massimo Filippi
- Neuroimaging Research Unit, Division of Neuroscience, and Neurology Unit, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy; Neurology Unit, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy; Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy; Neurorehabilitation Unit, and Neurophysiology Service, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy; Neurophysiology Service, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Frederik Barkhof
- Queen Square Multiple Sclerosis Centre, Department of Neuroinflammation, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, United Kingdom; Center for Medical Imaging Computing, Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, UCL, London, WC1V 6LJ, United Kingdom; Amsterdam Neuroscience, MS Center Amsterdam, Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Amsterdam UMC, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Àlex Rovira
- Section of Neuroradiology, Department of Radiology, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Cortese R, Giorgio A, Severa G, De Stefano N. MRI Prognostic Factors in Multiple Sclerosis, Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorder, and Myelin Oligodendrocyte Antibody Disease. Front Neurol 2021; 12:679881. [PMID: 34867701 PMCID: PMC8636325 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2021.679881] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2021] [Accepted: 10/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Several MRI measures have been developed in the last couple of decades, providing a number of imaging biomarkers that can capture the complexity of the pathological processes occurring in multiple sclerosis (MS) brains. Such measures have provided more specific information on the heterogeneous pathologic substrate of MS-related tissue damage, being able to detect, and quantify the evolution of structural changes both within and outside focal lesions. In clinical practise, MRI is increasingly used in the MS field to help to assess patients during follow-up, guide treatment decisions and, importantly, predict the disease course. Moreover, the process of identifying new effective therapies for MS patients has been supported by the use of serial MRI examinations in order to sensitively detect the sub-clinical effects of disease-modifying treatments at an earlier stage than is possible using measures based on clinical disease activity. However, despite this has been largely demonstrated in the relapsing forms of MS, a poor understanding of the underlying pathologic mechanisms leading to either progression or tissue repair in MS as well as the lack of sensitive outcome measures for the progressive phases of the disease and repair therapies makes the development of effective treatments a big challenge. Finally, the role of MRI biomarkers in the monitoring of disease activity and the assessment of treatment response in other inflammatory demyelinating diseases of the central nervous system, such as neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) and myelin oligodendrocyte antibody disease (MOGAD) is still marginal, and advanced MRI studies have shown conflicting results. Against this background, this review focused on recently developed MRI measures, which were sensitive to pathological changes, and that could best contribute in the future to provide prognostic information and monitor patients with MS and other inflammatory demyelinating diseases, in particular, NMOSD and MOGAD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rosa Cortese
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Neuroscience, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - Antonio Giorgio
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Neuroscience, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - Gianmarco Severa
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Neuroscience, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - Nicola De Stefano
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Neuroscience, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Bellenberg B, Lukas C. Editorial for "Improved Assessment of Longitudinal Spinal Cord Atrophy in Multiple Sclerosis Using a Registration-Based Approach: Relevance for Clinical Studies". J Magn Reson Imaging 2021; 55:1569-1570. [PMID: 34655127 DOI: 10.1002/jmri.27958] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2021] [Accepted: 10/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Barbara Bellenberg
- Institute of Neuroradiology, St. Josef Hospital, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Carsten Lukas
- Institute of Neuroradiology, St. Josef Hospital, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Valsasina P, Gobbi C, Zecca C, Rovira A, Sastre-Garriga J, Kearney H, Yiannakas M, Matthews L, Palace J, Gallo A, Bisecco A, Gass A, Eisele P, Filippi M, Rocca MA. Characterizing 1-year development of cervical cord atrophy across different MS phenotypes: A voxel-wise, multicentre analysis. Mult Scler 2021; 28:885-899. [PMID: 34605323 DOI: 10.1177/13524585211045545] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Spatio-temporal evolution of cord atrophy in multiple sclerosis (MS) has not been investigated yet. OBJECTIVE To evaluate voxel-wise distribution and 1-year changes of cervical cord atrophy in a multicentre MS cohort. METHODS Baseline and 1-year 3D T1-weighted cervical cord scans and clinical evaluations of 54 healthy controls (HC) and 113 MS patients (14 clinically isolated syndromes (CIS), 77 relapsing-remitting (RR), 22 progressive (P)) were used to investigate voxel-wise cord volume loss in patients versus HC, 1-year volume changes and clinical correlations (SPM12). RESULTS MS patients exhibited baseline cord atrophy versus HC at anterior and posterior/lateral C1/C2 and C4-C6 (p < 0.05, corrected). While CIS patients showed baseline volume increase at C4 versus HC (p < 0.001, uncorrected), RRMS exhibited posterior/lateral C1/C2 atrophy versus CIS, and PMS showed widespread cord atrophy versus RRMS (p < 0.05, corrected). At 1 year, 13 patients had clinically worsened. Cord atrophy progressed in MS, driven by RRMS, at posterior/lateral C2 and C3-C6 (p < 0.05, corrected). CIS patients showed no volume changes, while PMS showed circumscribed atrophy progression. Baseline cord atrophy at posterior/lateral C1/C2 and C3-C6 correlated with concomitant and 1-year disability (r = -0.40/-0.62, p < 0.05, corrected). CONCLUSIONS Voxel-wise analysis characterized spinal cord neurodegeneration over 1 year across MS phenotypes and helped to explain baseline and 1-year disability.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Paola Valsasina
- Neuroimaging Research Unit, Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Claudio Gobbi
- Multiple Sclerosis Center, Department of Neurology, Neurocenter of Southern Switzerland, Civic Hospital, Lugano, Switzerland Faculty of Biomedical Sciences, Università della Svizzera Italiana (USI), Lugano. Switzerland
| | - Chiara Zecca
- Multiple Sclerosis Center, Department of Neurology, Neurocenter of Southern Switzerland, Civic Hospital, Lugano, Switzerland Faculty of Biomedical Sciences, Università della Svizzera Italiana (USI), Lugano. Switzerland
| | - Alex Rovira
- Section of Neuroradiology, Department of Radiology, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Jaume Sastre-Garriga
- Department of Neurology/Neuroimmunology, Multiple Sclerosis Center of Catalonia, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Hugh Kearney
- Department of Neurology, St. Vincent's University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland/NMR Research Unit, Queen Square MS Centre, Department of Neuroinflammation, UCL Institute of Neurology, London, UK
| | - Marios Yiannakas
- NMR Research Unit, Queen Square MS Centre, Department of Neuroinflammation, UCL Institute of Neurology, London, UK
| | - Lucy Matthews
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Jacqueline Palace
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Antonio Gallo
- Department of Advanced Medical and Surgical Sciences, 3T-MRI Research Centre, University of Campania 'Luigi Vanvitelli', Naples, Italy
| | - Alvino Bisecco
- Department of Advanced Medical and Surgical Sciences, 3T-MRI Research Centre, University of Campania 'Luigi Vanvitelli', Naples, Italy
| | - Achim Gass
- Department of Neurology/Neuroimaging, Medical Faculty Mannheim and Mannheim Center for Translational Neurosciences (MCTN), University of Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Philipp Eisele
- Department of Neurology/Neuroimaging, Medical Faculty Mannheim and Mannheim Center for Translational Neurosciences (MCTN), University of Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Massimo Filippi
- Neuroimaging Research Unit, Division of Neuroscience, Neurology Unit, Neurorehabilitation Unit, Neurophysiology Service, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy/Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy
| | - Maria A Rocca
- Neuroimaging Research Unit, Division of Neuroscience, Neurology Unit, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy; Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy
| | | |
Collapse
|
8
|
Cohen-Adad J, Alonso-Ortiz E, Abramovic M, Arneitz C, Atcheson N, Barlow L, Barry RL, Barth M, Battiston M, Büchel C, Budde M, Callot V, Combes AJE, De Leener B, Descoteaux M, de Sousa PL, Dostál M, Doyon J, Dvorak A, Eippert F, Epperson KR, Epperson KS, Freund P, Finsterbusch J, Foias A, Fratini M, Fukunaga I, Wheeler-Kingshott CAMG, Germani G, Gilbert G, Giove F, Gros C, Grussu F, Hagiwara A, Henry PG, Horák T, Hori M, Joers J, Kamiya K, Karbasforoushan H, Keřkovský M, Khatibi A, Kim JW, Kinany N, Kitzler H, Kolind S, Kong Y, Kudlička P, Kuntke P, Kurniawan ND, Kusmia S, Labounek R, Laganà MM, Laule C, Law CS, Lenglet C, Leutritz T, Liu Y, Llufriu S, Mackey S, Martinez-Heras E, Mattera L, Nestrasil I, O'Grady KP, Papinutto N, Papp D, Pareto D, Parrish TB, Pichiecchio A, Prados F, Rovira À, Ruitenberg MJ, Samson RS, Savini G, Seif M, Seifert AC, Smith AK, Smith SA, Smith ZA, Solana E, Suzuki Y, Tackley G, Tinnermann A, Valošek J, Van De Ville D, Yiannakas MC, Weber KA, Weiskopf N, Wise RG, Wyss PO, Xu J. Generic acquisition protocol for quantitative MRI of the spinal cord. Nat Protoc 2021; 16:4611-4632. [PMID: 34400839 PMCID: PMC8811488 DOI: 10.1038/s41596-021-00588-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2020] [Accepted: 06/10/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Quantitative spinal cord (SC) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) presents many challenges, including a lack of standardized imaging protocols. Here we present a prospectively harmonized quantitative MRI protocol, which we refer to as the spine generic protocol, for users of 3T MRI systems from the three main manufacturers: GE, Philips and Siemens. The protocol provides guidance for assessing SC macrostructural and microstructural integrity: T1-weighted and T2-weighted imaging for SC cross-sectional area computation, multi-echo gradient echo for gray matter cross-sectional area, and magnetization transfer and diffusion weighted imaging for assessing white matter microstructure. In a companion paper from the same authors, the spine generic protocol was used to acquire data across 42 centers in 260 healthy subjects. The key details of the spine generic protocol are also available in an open-access document that can be found at https://github.com/spine-generic/protocols . The protocol will serve as a starting point for researchers and clinicians implementing new SC imaging initiatives so that, in the future, inclusion of the SC in neuroimaging protocols will be more common. The protocol could be implemented by any trained MR technician or by a researcher/clinician familiar with MRI acquisition.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Julien Cohen-Adad
- NeuroPoly Lab, Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Polytechnique Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
- Functional Neuroimaging Unit, CRIUGM, University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
- Mila-Quebec AI Institute, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
| | - Eva Alonso-Ortiz
- NeuroPoly Lab, Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Polytechnique Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Mihael Abramovic
- Department of Radiology, Swiss Paraplegic Centre, Nottwil, Switzerland
| | - Carina Arneitz
- Department of Radiology, Swiss Paraplegic Centre, Nottwil, Switzerland
| | - Nicole Atcheson
- Centre for Advanced Imaging, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Laura Barlow
- Department of Radiology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Robert L Barry
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA, USA
- Department of Radiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard-Massachusetts Institute of Technology Health Sciences & Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Markus Barth
- School of Information Technology and Electrical Engineering, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Marco Battiston
- NMR Research Unit, Queen Square MS Centre, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, Faculty of Brain Sciences, University College London, London, UK
| | - Christian Büchel
- Department of Systems Neuroscience, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Matthew Budde
- Department of Neurosurgery, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, USA
| | - Virginie Callot
- Aix-Marseille Univ, CNRS, CRMBM, Marseille, France
- APHM, Hopital Universitaire Timone, CEMEREM, Marseille, France
| | - Anna J E Combes
- Vanderbilt University Institute of Imaging Science, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Benjamin De Leener
- Department of Computer and Software Engineering, Polytechnique Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- CHU Sainte-Justine Research Centre, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Maxime Descoteaux
- Centre de Recherche CHUS, CIMS, Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada
- Sherbrooke Connectivity Imaging Lab (SCIL), Computer Science department, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada
| | | | - Marek Dostál
- UHB - University Hospital Brno and Masaryk University, Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Julien Doyon
- McConnell Brain Imaging Centre, Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Adam Dvorak
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Falk Eippert
- Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Karla R Epperson
- Richard M. Lucas Center, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Kevin S Epperson
- Richard M. Lucas Center, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Patrick Freund
- Spinal Cord Injury Center Balgrist, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Jürgen Finsterbusch
- Department of Systems Neuroscience, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Alexandru Foias
- NeuroPoly Lab, Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Polytechnique Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Michela Fratini
- Institute of Nanotechnology, CNR, Rome, Italy
- IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation, Rome, Italy
| | - Issei Fukunaga
- Department of Radiology, Juntendo University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Claudia A M Gandini Wheeler-Kingshott
- NMR Research Unit, Queen Square MS Centre, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, Faculty of Brain Sciences, University College London, London, UK
- Department of Brain and Behavioural Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
- Brain MRI 3T Research Centre, IRCCS Mondino Foundation, Pavia, Italy
| | - Giancarlo Germani
- Brain MRI 3T Research Centre, IRCCS Mondino Foundation, Pavia, Italy
| | | | - Federico Giove
- IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation, Rome, Italy
- CREF - Museo storico della fisica e Centro studi e ricerche Enrico Fermi, Rome, Italy
| | - Charley Gros
- NeuroPoly Lab, Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Polytechnique Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Centre for Advanced Imaging, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Francesco Grussu
- NMR Research Unit, Queen Square MS Centre, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, Faculty of Brain Sciences, University College London, London, UK
- Radiomics Group, Vall d'Hebron Institute of Oncology, Vall d'Hebron Barcelona Hospital Campus, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Akifumi Hagiwara
- Department of Radiology, Juntendo University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Pierre-Gilles Henry
- Center for Magnetic Resonance Research, Department of Radiology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Tomáš Horák
- Multimodal and functional imaging laboratory, Central European Institute of Technology (CEITEC), Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Masaaki Hori
- Department of Radiology, Toho University Omori Medical Center, Tokyo, Japan
| | - James Joers
- Center for Magnetic Resonance Research, Department of Radiology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Kouhei Kamiya
- Department of Radiology, the University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Haleh Karbasforoushan
- Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Miloš Keřkovský
- UHB - University Hospital Brno and Masaryk University, Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Ali Khatibi
- McConnell Brain Imaging Centre, Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Centre of Precision Rehabilitation for Spinal Pain (CPR Spine), School of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, UK
| | - Joo-Won Kim
- BioMedical Engineering and Imaging Institute (BMEII), Department of Radiology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Nawal Kinany
- Institute of Bioengineering/Center for Neuroprosthetics, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Geneva, Switzerland
- Department of Radiology and Medical Informatics, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Hagen Kitzler
- Institute of Diagnostic and Interventional Neuroradiology, Carl Gustav Carus University Hospital, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Shannon Kolind
- Department of Radiology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Department of Medicine (Neurology), University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Yazhuo Kong
- CAS Key Laboratory of Behavioral Science, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Department of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Wellcome Centre For Integrative Neuroimaging, FMRIB, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Petr Kudlička
- Multimodal and functional imaging laboratory, Central European Institute of Technology (CEITEC), Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Paul Kuntke
- Institute of Diagnostic and Interventional Neuroradiology, Carl Gustav Carus University Hospital, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Nyoman D Kurniawan
- Centre for Advanced Imaging, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Slawomir Kusmia
- CUBRIC, Cardiff University, Wales, UK
- Centre for Medical Image Computing (CMIC), Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering Department, University College London, London, UK
- Epilepsy Society MRI Unit, Chalfont St Peter, UK
| | - René Labounek
- Division of Clinical Behavioral Neuroscience, Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
- Departments of Neurology and Biomedical Engineering, University Hospital Olomouc, Olomouc, Czech Republic
| | | | - Cornelia Laule
- Departments of Radiology, Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, Physics & Astronomy; International Collaboration on Repair Discoveries (ICORD), University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Christine S Law
- Division of Pain Medicine, Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Christophe Lenglet
- Center for Magnetic Resonance Research, Department of Radiology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Tobias Leutritz
- Department of Neurophysics, Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Yaou Liu
- Department of Radiology, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- Tiantan Image Research Center, China National Clinical Research Center for Neurological Diseases, Beijing, China
| | - Sara Llufriu
- Center of Neuroimmunology, Laboratory of Advanced Imaging in Neuroimmunological Diseases, Hospital Clinic Barcelona, Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS) and Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Sean Mackey
- Division of Pain Medicine, Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Eloy Martinez-Heras
- Center of Neuroimmunology, Laboratory of Advanced Imaging in Neuroimmunological Diseases, Hospital Clinic Barcelona, Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS) and Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Loan Mattera
- Fondation Campus Biotech Genève, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Igor Nestrasil
- Center for Magnetic Resonance Research, Department of Radiology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
- Division of Clinical Behavioral Neuroscience, Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Kristin P O'Grady
- Vanderbilt University Institute of Imaging Science, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
- Department of Radiology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Nico Papinutto
- UCSF Weill Institute for Neurosciences, Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Daniel Papp
- NeuroPoly Lab, Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Polytechnique Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Wellcome Centre For Integrative Neuroimaging, FMRIB, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Deborah Pareto
- Neuroradiology Section, Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Todd B Parrish
- Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Anna Pichiecchio
- Department of Brain and Behavioural Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
- Brain MRI 3T Research Centre, IRCCS Mondino Foundation, Pavia, Italy
| | - Ferran Prados
- NMR Research Unit, Queen Square MS Centre, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, Faculty of Brain Sciences, University College London, London, UK
- Centre for Medical Image Computing (CMIC), Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering Department, University College London, London, UK
- E-health Centre, Universitat Oberta de Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Àlex Rovira
- Neuroradiology Section, Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Marc J Ruitenberg
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Rebecca S Samson
- NMR Research Unit, Queen Square MS Centre, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, Faculty of Brain Sciences, University College London, London, UK
| | - Giovanni Savini
- Brain MRI 3T Research Centre, IRCCS Mondino Foundation, Pavia, Italy
| | - Maryam Seif
- Spinal Cord Injury Center Balgrist, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Department of Neurophysics, Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Alan C Seifert
- BioMedical Engineering and Imaging Institute (BMEII), Department of Radiology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Alex K Smith
- Wellcome Centre For Integrative Neuroimaging, FMRIB, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Seth A Smith
- Vanderbilt University Institute of Imaging Science, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
- Department of Radiology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Zachary A Smith
- University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
| | - Elisabeth Solana
- Center of Neuroimmunology, Laboratory of Advanced Imaging in Neuroimmunological Diseases, Hospital Clinic Barcelona, Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS) and Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Yuichi Suzuki
- Department of Radiology, the University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | | | - Alexandra Tinnermann
- Department of Systems Neuroscience, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Jan Valošek
- Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Palacký University and University Hospital Olomouc, Olomouc, Czech Republic
| | - Dimitri Van De Ville
- Institute of Bioengineering/Center for Neuroprosthetics, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Geneva, Switzerland
- Department of Radiology and Medical Informatics, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Marios C Yiannakas
- NMR Research Unit, Queen Square MS Centre, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, Faculty of Brain Sciences, University College London, London, UK
| | - Kenneth A Weber
- Division of Pain Medicine, Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Nikolaus Weiskopf
- Department of Neurophysics, Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig, Germany
- Felix Bloch Institute for Solid State Physics, Faculty of Physics and Earth Sciences, Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Richard G Wise
- CUBRIC, Cardiff University, Wales, UK
- Institute for Advanced Biomedical Technologies, Department of Neuroscience, Imaging and Clinical Sciences, "G. D'Annunzio University" of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy
| | - Patrik O Wyss
- Department of Radiology, Swiss Paraplegic Centre, Nottwil, Switzerland
| | - Junqian Xu
- BioMedical Engineering and Imaging Institute (BMEII), Department of Radiology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Valsasina P, Horsfield MA, Meani A, Gobbi C, Gallo A, Rocca MA, Filippi M. Improved Assessment of Longitudinal Spinal Cord Atrophy in Multiple Sclerosis Using a Registration-Based Approach: Relevance for Clinical Studies. J Magn Reson Imaging 2021; 55:1559-1568. [PMID: 34582062 DOI: 10.1002/jmri.27937] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2021] [Revised: 09/15/2021] [Accepted: 09/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Reliable measurements of cervical cord atrophy progression may be useful for monitoring neurodegeneration in multiple sclerosis (MS). PURPOSE To compare a new, registration-based (Reg) method with two existing methods (active surface [AS] and propagation segmentation [PropSeg]) to measure cord atrophy changes over time in MS. STUDY TYPE Retrospective. SUBJECTS Cohort I: Eight healthy controls (HC) and 28 MS patients enrolled at a single institution, and cohort II: 25 HC and 63 MS patients enrolled at three European sites. FIELD STRENGTH/SEQUENCE 3D T1-weighted gradient echo sequence, acquired at 1.5 T (cohort I) and 3.0 T (cohort II). ASSESSMENT Percentage cord area changes (PCACs) between baseline and follow-up (cohort I: 2.34 years [interquartile range = 2.00-2.55 years], cohort II: 1.05 years [interquartile range = 1.01-1.18 years]) were evaluated for all subjects using Reg, AS, and PropSeg. Reg included an accurate registration of baseline and follow-up straightened cord images, followed by AS-based optimized cord segmentation. A subset of studies was analyzed twice by two observers. STATISTICAL TESTS Linear regression models were used to estimate annualized PCAC, and effect sizes expressed as the ratio between the estimated differences and HC error term (P < 0.05). Reproducibility was assessed by linear mixed-effect models. Annualized PCACs were used for sample size calculations (significance: α = 0.05, power: 1 - β = 0.80). RESULTS Annualized PCACs and related standard errors (SEs) were lower with Reg than with other methods: PCAC in MS patients at 1.5 T was -1.12% (SE = 0.22) with Reg, -1.32% (SE = 0.30) with AS, and -1.40% (SE = 0.33) with PropSeg, while at 3.0 T PCAC was -0.83% (SE = 0.25) with Reg, -0.92% (SE = 0.32) with AS, and -1.18 (SE = 0.53) with PropSeg. This was reflected in larger effect sizes and lower sample sizes. Intra- and inter-observer agreement range was 0.72-0.91 with AS, and it was >0.96 with Reg. DATA CONCLUSION The results support the use of the registration method to measure cervical cord atrophy progression in future MS clinical studies. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE 3 TECHNICAL EFFICACY STAGE: 2.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Paola Valsasina
- Neuroimaging Research Unit, Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | | | - Alessandro Meani
- Neuroimaging Research Unit, Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Claudio Gobbi
- Multiple Sclerosis Center, Department of Neurology, Neurocenter of Southern Switzerland (NSI), Lugano, Switzerland.,Faculty of Biomedical Sciences, Università della Svizzera Italiana (USI), Lugano, Switzerland
| | - Antonio Gallo
- Department of Advanced Medical and Surgical Sciences and 3T-MRI Research Centre, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Naples, Italy
| | - Maria A Rocca
- Neuroimaging Research Unit, Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy.,Neurology Unit, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy.,Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy
| | - Massimo Filippi
- Neuroimaging Research Unit, Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy.,Neurology Unit, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy.,Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy.,Neurorehabilitation Unit, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy.,Neurophysiology Service, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Pemberton HG, Zaki LAM, Goodkin O, Das RK, Steketee RME, Barkhof F, Vernooij MW. Technical and clinical validation of commercial automated volumetric MRI tools for dementia diagnosis-a systematic review. Neuroradiology 2021; 63:1773-1789. [PMID: 34476511 PMCID: PMC8528755 DOI: 10.1007/s00234-021-02746-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2021] [Accepted: 06/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Developments in neuroradiological MRI analysis offer promise in enhancing objectivity and consistency in dementia diagnosis through the use of quantitative volumetric reporting tools (QReports). Translation into clinical settings should follow a structured framework of development, including technical and clinical validation steps. However, published technical and clinical validation of the available commercial/proprietary tools is not always easy to find and pathways for successful integration into the clinical workflow are varied. The quantitative neuroradiology initiative (QNI) framework highlights six necessary steps for the development, validation and integration of quantitative tools in the clinic. In this paper, we reviewed the published evidence regarding regulatory-approved QReports for use in the memory clinic and to what extent this evidence fulfils the steps of the QNI framework. We summarize unbiased technical details of available products in order to increase the transparency of evidence and present the range of reporting tools on the market. Our intention is to assist neuroradiologists in making informed decisions regarding the adoption of these methods in the clinic. For the 17 products identified, 11 companies have published some form of technical validation on their methods, but only 4 have published clinical validation of their QReports in a dementia population. Upon systematically reviewing the published evidence for regulatory-approved QReports in dementia, we concluded that there is a significant evidence gap in the literature regarding clinical validation, workflow integration and in-use evaluation of these tools in dementia MRI diagnosis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hugh G Pemberton
- Centre for Medical Image Computing (CMIC), Department of Medical Physics and Bioengineering, University College London, London, UK.
- UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, UK.
- Dementia Research Centre, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, UK.
| | - Lara A M Zaki
- Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Olivia Goodkin
- Centre for Medical Image Computing (CMIC), Department of Medical Physics and Bioengineering, University College London, London, UK
- UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, UK
| | - Ravi K Das
- Clinical, Educational and Health Psychology, University College London, London, UK
| | - Rebecca M E Steketee
- Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Frederik Barkhof
- Centre for Medical Image Computing (CMIC), Department of Medical Physics and Bioengineering, University College London, London, UK
- UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, UK
- Radiology & Nuclear Medicine, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Meike W Vernooij
- Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Epidemiology, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Lukas C, Bellenberg B, Prados F, Valsasina P, Parmar K, Brouwer I, Pareto D, Rovira À, Sastre-Garriga J, Gandini Wheeler-Kingshott CAM, Kappos L, Rocca MA, Filippi M, Yiannakas M, Barkhof F, Vrenken H. Quantification of Cervical Cord Cross-Sectional Area: Which Acquisition, Vertebra Level, and Analysis Software? A Multicenter Repeatability Study on a Traveling Healthy Volunteer. Front Neurol 2021; 12:693333. [PMID: 34421797 PMCID: PMC8371197 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2021.693333] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2021] [Accepted: 06/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Considerable spinal cord (SC) atrophy occurs in multiple sclerosis (MS). While MRI-based techniques for SC cross-sectional area (CSA) quantification have improved over time, there is no common agreement on whether to measure at single vertebral levels or across larger regions and whether upper SC CSA can be reliably measured from brain images. Aim: To compare in a multicenter setting three CSA measurement methods in terms of repeatability at different anatomical levels. To analyze the agreement between measurements performed on the cervical cord and on brain MRI. Method: One healthy volunteer was scanned three times on the same day in six sites (three scanner vendors) using a 3T MRI protocol including sagittal 3D T1-weighted imaging of the brain (covering the upper cervical cord) and of the SC. Images were analyzed using two semiautomated methods [NeuroQLab (NQL) and the Active Surface Model (ASM)] and the fully automated Spinal Cord Toolbox (SCT) on different vertebral levels (C1-C2; C2/3) on SC and brain images and the entire cervical cord (C1-C7) on SC images only. Results: CSA estimates were significantly smaller using SCT compared to NQL and ASM (p < 0.001), regardless of the cord level. Inter-scanner repeatability was best in C1-C7: coefficients of variation for NQL, ASM, and SCT: 0.4, 0.6, and 1.0%, respectively. CSAs estimated in brain MRI were slightly lower than in SC MRI (all p ≤ 0.006 at the C1-C2 level). Despite protocol harmonization between the centers with regard to image resolution and use of high-contrast 3D T1-weighted sequences, the variability of CSA was partly scanner dependent probably due to differences in scanner geometry, coil design, and details of the MRI parameter settings. Conclusion: For CSA quantification, dedicated isotropic SC MRI should be acquired, which yielded best repeatability in the entire cervical cord. In the upper part of the cervical cord, use of brain MRI scans entailed only a minor loss of CSA repeatability compared to SC MRI. Due to systematic differences between scanners and the CSA quantification software, both should be kept constant within a study. The MRI dataset of this study is available publicly to test new analysis approaches.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Carsten Lukas
- Institute of Neuroradiology, St. Josef Hospital, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Barbara Bellenberg
- Institute of Neuroradiology, St. Josef Hospital, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Ferran Prados
- Department of Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, Centre for Medical Image Computing (CMIC), University College London, London, United Kingdom
- Queen Square Multiple Sclerosis Centre, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, United Kingdom
- e-Health Centre, Universitat Oberta de Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Paola Valsasina
- Neuroimaging Research Unit, Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Katrin Parmar
- Neurological Clinic and Policlinic, Department of Medicine, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Iman Brouwer
- Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Multiple Sclerosis Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam Neuroscience Amsterdam University Medical Centers (UMC), Vrije Universiteit Medical Center (VUmc), Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Deborah Pareto
- Section of Neuroradiology, Department of Radiology, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Àlex Rovira
- Section of Neuroradiology, Department of Radiology, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Jaume Sastre-Garriga
- Department of Neurology–Neuroimmunology, Multiple Sclerosis Center of Catalonia (Cemcat), Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Claudia A. M. Gandini Wheeler-Kingshott
- Queen Square Multiple Sclerosis Centre, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, United Kingdom
- Department of Brain & Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
- Brain Connectivity Center, IRCCS Mondino Foundation, Pavia, Italy
| | - Ludwig Kappos
- Neurological Clinic and Policlinic, Department of Medicine, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Basel, Allschwig, Switzerland
| | - Maria A. Rocca
- Neuroimaging Research Unit, Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
- Neurology Unit, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
- Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy
| | - Massimo Filippi
- Neuroimaging Research Unit, Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
- Neurology Unit, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
- Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy
- Neurorehabilitation Unit, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
- Neurophysiology Service, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Marios Yiannakas
- Queen Square Multiple Sclerosis Centre, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Frederik Barkhof
- Department of Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, Centre for Medical Image Computing (CMIC), University College London, London, United Kingdom
- Queen Square Multiple Sclerosis Centre, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, United Kingdom
- Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Multiple Sclerosis Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam Neuroscience Amsterdam University Medical Centers (UMC), Vrije Universiteit Medical Center (VUmc), Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Hugo Vrenken
- Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Multiple Sclerosis Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam Neuroscience Amsterdam University Medical Centers (UMC), Vrije Universiteit Medical Center (VUmc), Amsterdam, Netherlands
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Mina Y, Azodi S, Dubuche T, Andrada F, Osuorah I, Ohayon J, Cortese I, Wu T, Johnson KR, Reich DS, Nair G, Jacobson S. Cervical and thoracic cord atrophy in multiple sclerosis phenotypes: Quantification and correlation with clinical disability. NEUROIMAGE-CLINICAL 2021; 30:102680. [PMID: 34215150 PMCID: PMC8131917 DOI: 10.1016/j.nicl.2021.102680] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2020] [Revised: 04/15/2021] [Accepted: 04/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
Spinal cord atrophy is prevalent across multiple sclerosis phenotypes. It correlates with disability, especially in relapsing-remitting patients. This correlation can be demonstrated both cross-sectionally and longitudinally. Cervical atrophy is highly associated with disability and disease progression. Thoracic atrophy contributes to improved correlation and radiological subgrouping.
Objective We sought to characterize spinal cord atrophy along the entire spinal cord in the major multiple sclerosis (MS) phenotypes, and evaluate its correlation with clinical disability. Methods Axial T1-weighted images were automatically reformatted at each point along the cord. Spinal cord cross‐sectional area (SCCSA) were calculated from C1-T10 vertebral body levels and profile plots were compared across phenotypes. Average values from C2-3, C4-5, and T4-9 regions were compared across phenotypes and correlated with clinical scores, and then categorized as atrophic/normal based on z-scores derived from controls, to compare clinical scores between subgroups. In a subset of relapsing-remitting cases with longitudinal scans these regions were compared to change in clinical scores. Results The cross-sectional study consisted of 149 adults diagnosed with relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS), 49 with secondary-progressive MS (SPMS), 58 with primary-progressive MS (PPMS) and 48 controls. The longitudinal study included 78 RRMS cases. Compared to controls, all MS groups had smaller average regions except RRMS in T4-9 region. In all MS groups, SCCSA from all regions, particularly the cervical cord, correlated with most clinical measures. In the RRMS cohort, 22% of cases had at least one atrophic region, whereas in progressive MS the rate was almost 70%. Longitudinal analysis showed correlation between clinical disability and cervical cord thinning. Conclusions Spinal cord atrophy was prevalent across MS phenotypes, with regional measures from the RRMS cohort and the progressive cohort, including SPMS and PPMS, being correlated with disability. Longitudinal changes in the spinal cord were documented in RRMS cases, making it a potential marker for disease progression. While cervical SCCSA correlated with most disability and progression measures, inclusion of thoracic measurements improved this correlation and allowed for better subgrouping of spinal cord phenotypes. Cord atrophy is an important and easily obtainable imaging marker of clinical and sub-clinical progression in all MS phenotypes, and such measures can play a key role in patient selection for clinical trials.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yair Mina
- Viral Immunology Section, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States; Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel
| | - Shila Azodi
- Viral Immunology Section, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States; Neuroimmunology Clinic, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Tsemacha Dubuche
- Viral Immunology Section, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Frances Andrada
- Neuroimmunology Clinic, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Ikesinachi Osuorah
- Neuroimmunology Clinic, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Joan Ohayon
- Neuroimmunology Clinic, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Irene Cortese
- Neuroimmunology Clinic, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Tianxia Wu
- Clinical Trials Unit, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Kory R Johnson
- Bioinformatics Section, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Daniel S Reich
- Translational Neuroradiology Section, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Govind Nair
- Neuroimmunology Clinic, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States; Quantitative MRI Core Facility, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Steven Jacobson
- Viral Immunology Section, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States.
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Imaging of the Spinal Cord in Multiple Sclerosis: Past, Present, Future. Brain Sci 2020; 10:brainsci10110857. [PMID: 33202821 PMCID: PMC7696997 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci10110857] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2020] [Revised: 10/30/2020] [Accepted: 11/11/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Spinal cord imaging in multiple sclerosis (MS) plays a significant role in diagnosing and tracking disease progression. The spinal cord is one of four key areas of the central nervous system where documenting the dissemination in space in the McDonald criteria for diagnosing MS. Spinal cord lesion load and the severity of cord atrophy are believed to be more relevant to disability than white matter lesions in the brain in different phenotypes of MS. Axonal loss contributes to spinal cord atrophy in MS and its degree correlates with disease severity and prognosis. Therefore, measures of axonal loss are often reliable biomarkers for monitoring disease progression. With recent technical advances, more and more qualitative and quantitative MRI techniques have been investigated in an attempt to provide objective and reliable diagnostic and monitoring biomarkers in MS. In this article, we discuss the role of spinal cord imaging in the diagnosis and prognosis of MS and, additionally, we review various techniques that may improve our understanding of the disease.
Collapse
|
14
|
Spinal cord atrophy in a primary progressive multiple sclerosis trial: Improved sample size using GBSI. NEUROIMAGE-CLINICAL 2020; 28:102418. [PMID: 32961403 PMCID: PMC7509079 DOI: 10.1016/j.nicl.2020.102418] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2020] [Revised: 08/29/2020] [Accepted: 09/03/2020] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
The GBSI provided clinically meaningful measurements of spinal cord atrophy, with low sample size. Deriving spinal cord atrophy from brain MRI using the GBSI is easier than spinal cord MRI. Spinal cord atrophy on GBSI could be used as a secondary outcome measure.
Background We aimed to evaluate the implications for clinical trial design of the generalised boundary-shift integral (GBSI) for spinal cord atrophy measurement. Methods We included 220 primary-progressive multiple sclerosis patients from a phase 2 clinical trial, with baseline and week-48 3DT1-weighted MRI of the brain and spinal cord (1 × 1 × 1 mm3), acquired separately. We obtained segmentation-based cross-sectional spinal cord area (CSA) at C1-2 (from both brain and spinal cord MRI) and C2-5 levels (from spinal cord MRI) using DeepSeg, and, then, we computed corresponding GBSI. Results Depending on the spinal cord segment, we included 67.4–98.1% patients for CSA measurements, and 66.9–84.2% for GBSI. Spinal cord atrophy measurements obtained with GBSI had lower measurement variability, than corresponding CSA. Looking at the image noise floor, the lowest median standard deviation of the MRI signal within the cerebrospinal fluid surrounding the spinal cord was found on brain MRI at the C1-2 level. Spinal cord atrophy derived from brain MRI was related to the corresponding measures from dedicated spinal cord MRI, more strongly for GBSI than CSA. Spinal cord atrophy measurements using GBSI, but not CSA, were associated with upper and lower limb motor progression. Discussion Notwithstanding the reduced measurement variability, the clinical correlates, and the possibility of using brain acquisitions, spinal cord atrophy using GBSI should remain a secondary outcome measure in MS studies, until further advancements increase the quality of acquisition and reliability of processing.
Collapse
|