Development of a quantitative statistical analysis system for double inversion recovery (DIR) MRI: A preliminary clinical study

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Hayashi, Norio^{a; *} | Sato, Yusuke^{b; c} | Maruyama, Tomoko^{b; d} | Shimoyama, Yuuya^e | Motegi, Shunichi^f | Ujita, Kouichi^c | Kumasaka, Soma^g | Ogura, Akio^a | Ogura, Toshihiro^a | Tsushima, Yoshito^g

Affiliations: [a] Department of Radiological Technology, Gunma Prefectural College of Health Sciences, Maebashi, Gunma, Japan | [b] Graduate School of Radiological Technology, Gunma Prefectural College of Health Sciences, Maebashi, Gunma, Japan | [c] Department of Radiology, Gunma University Hospital, Maebashi, Gunma, Japan | [d] Department of Radiology, Shinshu University Hospital, Nagano, Japan | [e] Department of Radiology, Shinozuka Hospital, Fujioka, Gumma, Japan | [f] Department of Radiology, Josai Clinic, Maebashi, Gumma, Japan | [g] Department of Diagnostic Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, Maebashi, Japan

Correspondence: [*] Corresponding author: Norio Hayashi, Department of Radiological Technology, Gunma Prefectural College of Health Sciences 323-1 Kamioki, Maebashi, Gunma, 371-0052, Japan. Tel.: +81 27 235 1211; Fax +81 27 235 2501; E-mail: hayashi@gchs.ac.jp.

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Gray matter (GM) imaging is important in the investigation of many neurological diseases, including schizophrenia, multiple sclerosis, stroke, Alzheimer’s disease, tuberous sclerosis, and epilepsy, which are all associated with changes in cortical GM. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to develop a quantitative statistical analysis system for double inversion recovery (DIR) MRI and to evaluate the new system using preliminary clinical data. METHODS: The study population comprised of 10 healthy volunteers and six patients with or without brain degeneration. A quantitative statistical analysis system for DIR images was developed using the following steps: 1) brain spatial normalization, 2) mean and standard deviation (SD) map creation, and 3) Z-score map creation. To evaluate the new voxel-based morphometry system, Z-scores of lesions in patients with brain degeneration were measured and then compared with Z-scores of normal regions. RESULTS: All DIR images were adequately spatially normalized to Montreal Neurological Institute MNI coordinate. Lesions in each patient were indicated by high Z-score values on a Z-score map, which were significantly higher than Z-scores of normal regions (p< 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: In this study, we developed a quantitative statistical analysis system for DIR MRI. Using our system, clinicians might accurately diagnose early brain degeneration.

Keywords: Gray matter, Alzheimer’s disease, spatial analysis, neurodegenerative diseases

DOI: 10.3233/THC-195646

Journal: Technology and Health Care, vol. 28, no. 3, pp. 241-248, 2020