Abstract
The processing of brain diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) data for large cohort studies requires fully automatic pipelines to perform quality control (QC) and artifact/outlier removal procedures on the raw DTI data prior to calculation of diffusion parameters. In this study, three automatic DTI processing pipelines, each complying with the general ENIGMA framework, were designed by uniquely combining multiple image processing software tools. Different QC procedures based on the RESTORE algorithm, the DTIPrep protocol, and a combination of both methods were compared using simulated ground truth and artifact containing DTI datasets modeling eddy current induced distortions, various levels of motion artifacts, and thermal noise. Variability was also examined in 20 DTI datasets acquired in subjects with vascular cognitive impairment (VCI) from the multi-site Ontario Neurodegenerative Disease Research Initiative (ONDRI). The mean fractional anisotropy (FA), mean diffusivity (MD), axial diffusivity (AD), and radial diffusivity (RD) were calculated in global brain grey matter (GM) and white matter (WM) regions. For the simulated DTI datasets, the measure used to evaluate the performance of the pipelines was the normalized difference between the mean DTI metrics measured in GM and WM regions and the corresponding ground truth DTI value. The performance of the proposed pipelines was very similar, particularly in FA measurements. However, the pipeline based on the RESTORE algorithm was the most accurate when analyzing the artifact containing DTI datasets. The pipeline that combined the DTIPrep protocol and the RESTORE algorithm produced the lowest standard deviation in FA measurements in normal appearing WM across subjects. We concluded that this pipeline was the most robust and is preferred for automated analysis of multisite brain DTI data.
Publication types
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Comparative Study
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Multicenter Study
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Aged
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Aged, 80 and over
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Algorithms
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Anisotropy
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Artifacts
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Cognitive Dysfunction / diagnostic imaging*
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Cohort Studies
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Diffusion Tensor Imaging / methods*
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Diffusion Tensor Imaging / standards*
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Electronic Data Processing / methods*
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Female
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Gray Matter / diagnostic imaging
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Humans
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Longitudinal Studies
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Male
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Middle Aged
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Ontario
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Quality Control*
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Software
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White Matter / diagnostic imaging
Grants and funding
This study was funded by Ontario Brain Institute through the Ontario Neurodegenerative Disease Research Initiative (ONDRI). ONDRI is a provincial collaboration between more than 80 of Ontario’s world-class neurodegenerative disease researchers and clinicians, four patient advocacy groups, the industrial sector, and more than 15 clinical, academic and research centers carried out in partnership with the Ontario Brain Institute. The five-year funding formula for the Ontario Neurodegenerative Disease Research Initiative (ONDRI) includes $19 million from the Ontario Brain Institute (OBI) and $9.5 million in partner (healthcare and academic and research institutions) contributions. Of the $9.5 million required in partner contributions, over $5 million has currently been raised through philanthropic donations. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript. The ONDRI project is funded by the Ontario Brain Institute through the Government of Ontario with matching funds provided by participating hospital and research institute foundations, including the Baycrest Foundation, Bruyère Research Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health Foundation, London Health Sciences Foundation, McMaster University Faculty of Health Sciences, Ottawa Brain and Mind Research Institute, Queen’s University Faculty of Health Sciences, Providence Care (Kingston), Sunnybrook Health Sciences Foundation, the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre, the University of Ottawa Faculty of Medicine, and the Windsor/Essex County ALS Association. The Temerty Family Foundation provided the major infrastructure matching funds. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript. Dr. Haddad was supported by an ONDRI postdoctoral scholar fellowship. The Centre for Functional and Metabolic Mapping is supported by Brain Canada and the Canada First Research Excellence Fund (CFREF).