title: Volume measurement of multiple sclerosis lesions with magnetic resonance images. A preliminary study.
abstract: The ability to visualise multiple sclerosis lesions in vivo with magnetic resonance imaging suggests an important role in monitoring the course of the disease. In order to help the long-term assessment of prospective treatments, a semi-automated technique for measuring lesion volume has been developed to provide a quantitative index of disease progression. Results are presented from a preliminary study with a single patient and compared to measurements taken from lesion outlines traced by a neuroradiologist, two neurologists and a technician. The semi-automated technique achieved a precision of 6% compared to a range of 12-33% for the manual tracing method. It also reduced the human interaction time from at least 60 min to 15 min.
authors.affiliation: NMR Research Group, Institute of Neurology, London, UK.
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Wicks
authors.forename: P S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Tofts
authors.forename: D H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: G H
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: du Boulay
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Feinstein
authors.forename: R P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Sacares
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Harvey
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Brenner
authors.forename: W I
authors.initials: WI
authors.lastname: McDonald
mesh_terms: D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology*; D003196:Computer Graphics; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000295:instrumentation*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000295:instrumentation*; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000473:pathology*; D009460:Neurologic Examination