Quantitative structural neuroimaging of mild traumatic brain injury in the Chronic Effects of Neurotrauma Consortium (CENC): Comparison of volumetric data within and across scanners.
An important component of the multicentre Chronic Effects of Neurotrauma Consortium (CENC) project is the development of improved quantitative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) methods, including volumetric analysis. Although many studies routinely employ quality assurance (QA) procedures including MR and human phantoms to promote accuracy and monitor site differences, few studies perform rigorous direct comparisons of these data nor report findings that enable inference regarding site-to-site comparability. These gaps in evaluating cross-site differences are concerning, especially given the well-established differences that can occur between data acquired on scanners with different manufacturer, hardware or software.



This study reports findings on (1) a series of studies utilizing two MR phantoms to interrogate machine-based variability using data collected on the same magnet, (2) a human phantom repeatedly imaged on the same scanner to investigate within-subject, within-site variability and (3) a human phantom imaged on three different scanners to examine within subject, between-site variability.



Although variability is relatively minimal for the phantom scanned on the same magnet, significantly more variability is introduced in a human subject, particularly when regions are relatively small or multiple sites used.



Vigilance when combining data from different sites is suggested and that future efforts address these issues.
a Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center , Houston , TX , USA.|b Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.|c Department of Neurology.|d Department of Radiology, Baylor College of Medicine , Houston , TX , USA.
Elisabeth A
EA
Wilde
e Department of Psychology.|f Department of Neuroscience , Brigham Young University , Provo , UT , USA.
Erin D
ED
Bigler
f Department of Neuroscience , Brigham Young University , Provo , UT , USA.
Trevor
T
Huff
f Department of Neuroscience , Brigham Young University , Provo , UT , USA.
Haonan
H
Wang
b Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.
Garrett M
GM
Black
f Department of Neuroscience , Brigham Young University , Provo , UT , USA.
Zachary P
ZP
Christensen
e Department of Psychology.
Naomi
N
Goodrich-Hunsaker
e Department of Psychology.
Jo Ann
JA
Petrie
f Department of Neuroscience , Brigham Young University , Provo , UT , USA.
Tracy
T
Abildskov
a Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center , Houston , TX , USA.|b Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.|d Department of Radiology, Baylor College of Medicine , Houston , TX , USA.
Brian A
BA
Taylor
g Department of Radiology and Medical Imaging.|h Department of Neurological Surgery , University of Virginia , Charlottesville , VA , USA.
James R
JR
Stone
g Department of Radiology and Medical Imaging.
Nicholas J
NJ
Tustison
a Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center , Houston , TX , USA.|b Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.
Mary R
MR
Newsome
a Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center , Houston , TX , USA.|b Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.|c Department of Neurology.
Harvey S
HS
Levin
d Department of Radiology, Baylor College of Medicine , Houston , TX , USA.
Zili D
ZD
Chu
i Alaska Radiology Associates , Anchorage , AK , USA.
Gerald E
GE
York
j Missouri Institute of Mental Health , University of Missouri , St. Louis , MO , USA.
David F
DF
Tate
D000328:Adult; D001921:Brain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D001924:Brain Concussion / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D019047:Phantoms, Imaging; D055815:Young Adult
Neuroimaging; brain imaging; magnetic resonance imaging; phantoms; veterans; volumetrics