title: Atlas-based segmentation of the germinal matrix from in utero clinical MRI of the fetal brain.
abstract: Recently developed techniques for reconstruction of high-resolution 3D images from fetal MR scans allows us to study the morphometry of developing brain tissues in utero. However, existing adult brain analysis methods cannot be directly applied as the anatomy of the fetal brain is significantly different in terms of geometry and tissue morphology. We describe an approach to atlas-based segmentation of the fetal brain with particular focus on the delineation of the germinal matrix, a transient structure related to brain growth. We segment 3D images reconstructed from in utero clinical MR scans and measure volumes of different brain tissue classes for a group of fetal subjects at gestational age 20.5-22.5 weeks. We also include a partial validation of the approach using manual tracing of the germinal matrix at different gestational ages.
authors.affiliation: Biomedical Image Computing Group, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA. piotr.habas@ucsf.edu
authors.forename: Piotr A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Habas
authors.forename: Kio
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Francois
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Rousseau
authors.forename: Orit A
authors.initials: OA
authors.lastname: Glenn
authors.forename: A James
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Barkovich
authors.forename: Colin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Studholme
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D001185:Artificial Intelligence; D001921:Brain / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000196:embryology*; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D016247:Information Storage and Retrieval / Q000379:methods*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D010363:Pattern Recognition, Automated / Q000379:methods*; D011296:Prenatal Diagnosis / Q000379:methods*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013382:Subtraction Technique