title: Automated algorithm for reconstruction of the complete spine from multistation 7T MR data.
abstract: Recent technical developments in high-field MRI have enabled high-resolution imaging of the whole spine within clinically acceptable times. However, analysis of such data requires intensity inhomogeneity correction and volume stitching, both of which are typically performed manually. In this work, an automated method for reconstruction of the complete spine from multistation 7T MR data is presented. The method consists of a number of image processing steps, in particular intensity inhomogeneity correction and image registration for recovery of unknown interscan bed translations, which result in high-quality spine volume reconstructions. The registration performance of the developed algorithm was validated on 18 datasets acquired in two or three stations. In all the test cases, our algorithm was able to produce correct reconstruction of the spine volume. The resulting mean registration error (0.53 mm) is found to be lower than the pixel size, demonstrating robustness and accuracy of the proposed method.
authors: Department of Radiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands. o.dzyubachyk@lumc.nl
authors: Oleh
authors: O
authors: Dzyubachyk
authors: Boudewijn P F
authors: BP
authors: Lelieveldt
authors: Jorik
authors: J
authors: Blaas
authors: Monique
authors: M
authors: Reijnierse
authors: Andrew
authors: A
authors: Webb
authors: Rob J
authors: RJ
authors: van der Geest
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D010363:Pattern Recognition, Automated / Q000379:methods*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013131:Spine / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D013382:Subtraction Technique; D051598:Whole Body Imaging / Q000379:methods