title: MRI texture analysis (MRTA) of T2-weighted images in Crohn's disease may provide information on histological and MRI disease activity in patients undergoing ileal resection.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To associate MRI textural analysis (MRTA) with MRI and histological Crohn's disease (CD) activity.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixteen patients (mean age 39.5 years, 9 male) undergoing MR enterography before ileal resection were retrospectively analysed. Thirty-six small (≤3 mm) ROIs were placed on T2-weighted images and location-matched histological acute inflammatory scores (AIS) measured. MRI activity (mural thickness, T2 signal, T1 enhancement) (CDA) was scored in large ROIs. MRTA features (mean, standard deviation, mean of positive pixels (MPP), entropy, kurtosis, skewness) were extracted using a filtration histogram technique. Spatial scale filtration (SSF) ranged from 2 to 5 mm. Regression (linear/logistic) tested associations between MRTA and AIS (small ROIs), and CDA/constituent parameters (large ROIs).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Skewness (SSF = 2 mm) was associated with AIS [regression coefficient (rc) 4.27, p = 0.02]. Of 120 large ROI analyses (for each MRI, MRTA feature and SSF), 15 were significant. Entropy (SSF = 2, 3 mm) and kurtosis (SSF = 3 mm) were associated with CDA (rc 0.9, 1.0, -0.45, p = 0.006-0.01). Entropy and mean (SSF = 2-4 mm) were associated with T2 signal [odds ratio (OR) 2.32-3.16, p = 0.02-0.004], [OR 1.22-1.28, p = 0.03-0.04]. MPP (SSF = 2 mm) was associated with mural thickness (OR 0.91, p = 0.04). Kurtosis (SSF = 3 mm), standard deviation (SSF = 5 mm) were associated with decreased T1 enhancement (OR 0.59, 0.42, p = 0.004, 0.007).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MRTA features may be associated with CD activity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  • MR texture analysis features may be associated with Crohn's disease histological activity. • Texture analysis features may correlate with MR-dependent Crohn's disease activity scores. • The utility of MR texture analysis in Crohn's disease merits further investigation.
authors.affiliation: Center for Medical Imaging, University College London and University College London Hospitals NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, 250 Euston Road, London, NW1 2BU, UK.
authors.forename: Jesica
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Makanyanga
authors.affiliation: Institute of Nuclear Medicine, University College London, University College Hospital, 235 Euston Road, London, NW1 2BU, UK.
authors.forename: Balaji
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ganeshan
authors.affiliation: Department of Research Pathology, University College London Cancer Institute, University College London, Rockefeller Building, London, WC1E 6JJ, UK.
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rodriguez-Justo
authors.affiliation: Center for Medical Imaging, University College London and University College London Hospitals NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, 250 Euston Road, London, NW1 2BU, UK.
authors.forename: Gauraang
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bhatnagar
authors.affiliation: Institute of Nuclear Medicine, University College London, University College Hospital, 235 Euston Road, London, NW1 2BU, UK.
authors.forename: Ashley
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Groves
authors.affiliation: Center for Medical Imaging, University College London and University College London Hospitals NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, 250 Euston Road, London, NW1 2BU, UK.
authors.forename: Steve
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Halligan
authors.affiliation: Institute of Nuclear Medicine, University College London, University College Hospital, 235 Euston Road, London, NW1 2BU, UK.
authors.forename: Ken
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Miles
authors.affiliation: Center for Medical Imaging, University College London and University College London Hospitals NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, 250 Euston Road, London, NW1 2BU, UK. csytaylor@yahoo.co.uk.
authors.forename: Stuart A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Taylor
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003424:Crohn Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007082:Ileum / Q000601:surgery*; D007422:Intestines / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011300:Preoperative Care / Q000379:methods*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Crohn disease; Histology; Magnetic resonance imaging; Small intestine; Textural analysis