title: Bayesian classification of multiple sclerosis lesions in longitudinal MRI using subtraction images.
abstract: Accurate and precise identification of multiple sclerosis (MS) lesions in longitudinal MRI is important for monitoring disease progression and for assessing treatment effects. We present a probabilistic framework to automatically detect new, enlarging and resolving lesions in longitudinal scans of MS patients based on multimodal subtraction magnetic resonance (MR) images. Our Bayesian framework overcomes registration artifact by explicitly modeling the variability in the difference images, the tissue transitions, and the neighbourhood classes in the form of likelihoods, and by embedding a classification of a reference scan as a prior. Our method was evaluated on (a) a scan-rescan data set consisting of 3 MS patients and (b) a multicenter clinical data set consisting of 212 scans from 89 RRMS (relapsing-remitting MS) patients. The proposed method is shown to identify MS lesions in longitudinal MRI with a high degree of precision while remaining sensitive to lesion activity.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Intelligent Machines, McGill University, Canada.
authors.forename: Colm
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Elliott
authors.forename: Simon J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Francis
authors.forename: Douglas L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Arnold
authors.forename: D Louis
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Collins
authors.forename: Tal
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Arbel
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D001185:Artificial Intelligence; D001499:Bayes Theorem; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000473:pathology*; D010363:Pattern Recognition, Automated / Q000379:methods*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013382:Subtraction Technique