title: Probabilistic brain tissue segmentation in neonatal magnetic resonance imaging.
abstract: A fully automated method has been developed for segmentation of four different structures in the neonatal brain: white matter (WM), central gray matter (CEGM), cortical gray matter (COGM), and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). The segmentation algorithm is based on information from T2-weighted (T2-w) and inversion recovery (IR) scans. The method uses a K nearest neighbor (KNN) classification technique with features derived from spatial information and voxel intensities. Probabilistic segmentations of each tissue type were generated. By applying thresholds on these probability maps, binary segmentations were obtained. These final segmentations were evaluated by comparison with a gold standard. The sensitivity, specificity, and Dice similarity index (SI) were calculated for quantitative validation of the results. High sensitivity and specificity with respect to the gold standard were reached: sensitivity >0.82 and specificity >0.9 for all tissue types. Tissue volumes were calculated from the binary and probabilistic segmentations. The probabilistic segmentation volumes of all tissue types accurately estimated the gold standard volumes. The KNN approach offers valuable ways for neonatal brain segmentation. The probabilistic outcomes provide a useful tool for accurate volume measurements. The described method is based on routine diagnostic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and is suitable for large population studies.
authors: Department of Radiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, 3584 CX Utrecht, The Netherlands. P.Anbeek@umcutrecht.nl
authors: Petronella
authors: P
authors: Anbeek
authors: Koen L
authors: KL
authors: Vincken
authors: Floris
authors: F
authors: Groenendaal
authors: Annemieke
authors: A
authors: Koeman
authors: Matthias J P
authors: MJ
authors: van Osch
authors: Jeroen
authors: J
authors: van der Grond
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D001921:Brain / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000473:pathology*; D001931:Brain Mapping / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards*; D008297:Male; D015233:Models, Statistical; D010363:Pattern Recognition, Automated; D011336:Probability; D012815:Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted; D013997:Time Factors