Three-dimensional surface rendering in MRI morphometry: a study of the planum temporale.
OBJECTIVE
The emergence of methodologies for accurately rendering cortical surfaces suggests possible quantitative applications of surface rendering to morphometry of the cerebral cortex. We examined this novel use of surface renderings in a study of the planum temporale, a neuroanatomical structure exhibiting well-documented normal asymmetry previously visible only in postmortem studies.


METHODS
With the aid of three-dimensional renderings of the supratemporal cortex, the area of the planum temporal was analyzed in the volume MRIs of seven normal, strongly right-handed males.


RESULTS
In comparison with areas derived from conventional measurements of serial MRI sections, planum temporale areas derived from supratemporal surface renderings offered far greater interrater reliability, and presumably improved validity as reflected by more consistent evidence of the anticipated planum asymmetry.


CONCLUSIONS
Morphometry of the supratemporal cortex is enhanced by the use of three-dimensional surface renderings. Application of surface-rendering techniques to morphometry of other cortical regions is discussed.
Kulynych
J J
JJ
Clinical Brain Disorders Branch, National Institute of Mental Health, Washington, DC 20032.
Vladar
K
K
Jones
D W
DW
Weinberger
D R
DR
D000465:Algorithms; D001921:Brain / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D003196:Computer Graphics; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male