title: Label-fusion-segmentation and deformation-based shape analysis of deep gray matter in multiple sclerosis: the impact of thalamic subnuclei on disability.
abstract: Deep gray matter (DGM) atrophy has been reported in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) already at early stages of the disease and progresses throughout the disease course. We studied DGM volume and shape and their relation to disability in a large cohort of clinically well-described MS patients using new subcortical segmentation methods and shape analysis. Structural 3D magnetic resonance images were acquired at 1.5 T in 118 patients with relapsing remitting MS. Subcortical structures were segmented using a multiatlas technique that relies on the generation of an automatically generated template library. To localize focal morphological changes, shape analysis was performed by estimating the vertex-wise displacements each subject must undergo to deform to a template. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that the volume of specific thalamic nuclei (the ventral nuclear complex) together with normalized gray matter volume explains a relatively large proportion of expanded disability status scale (EDSS) variability. The deformation-based displacement analysis confirmed the relation between thalamic shape and EDSS scores. Furthermore, white matter lesion volume was found to relate to the shape of all subcortical structures. This novel method for the analysis of subcortical volume and shape allows depicting specific contributions of DGM abnormalities to neurological deficits in MS patients. The results stress the importance of ventral thalamic nuclei in this respect.
authors: Department of Neurology, University Hospital Basel, Switzerland; Medical Image Analysis Center, University Hospital Basel, Switzerland.
authors: Stefano
authors: S
authors: Magon
authors: M Mallar
authors: MM
authors: Chakravarty
authors: Michael
authors: M
authors: Amann
authors: Katrin
authors: K
authors: Weier
authors: Yvonne
authors: Y
authors: Naegelin
authors: Michaela
authors: M
authors: Andelova
authors: Ernst-Wilhelm
authors: EW
authors: Radue
authors: Christoph
authors: C
authors: Stippich
authors: Jason P
authors: JP
authors: Lerch
authors: Ludwig
authors: L
authors: Kappos
authors: Till
authors: T
authors: Sprenger
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001271:Atlases as Topic; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D066128:Gray Matter / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D016014:Linear Models; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020529:Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting / Q000473:pathology*; D009929:Organ Size; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013787:Thalamic Nuclei / Q000473:pathology; D066127:White Matter / Q000473:pathology; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: MRI; brain volume; neuroimaging; thalamus