Probabilistic conversion of neurosurgical DBS electrode coordinates into MNI space.
In neurosurgical literature, findings such as deep brain stimulation (DBS) electrode positions are conventionally reported in relation to the anterior and posterior commissures of the individual patient (AC/PC coordinates). However, the neuroimaging literature including neuroanatomical atlases, activation patterns, and brain connectivity maps has converged on a different population-based standard (MNI coordinates). Ideally, one could relate these two literatures by directly transforming MRIs from neurosurgical patients into MNI space. However obtaining these patient MRIs can prove difficult or impossible, especially for older studies or those with hundreds of patients. Here, we introduce a methodology for mapping an AC/PC coordinate (such as a DBS electrode position) to MNI space without the need for MRI scans from the patients themselves. We validate our approach using a cohort of DBS patients in which MRIs are available, and test whether several variations on our approach provide added benefit. We then use our approach to convert previously reported DBS electrode coordinates from eight different neurological and psychiatric diseases into MNI space. Finally, we demonstrate the value of such a conversion using the DBS target for essential tremor as an example, relating the site of the active DBS contact to different MNI atlases as well as anatomical and functional connectomes in MNI space.
Berenson-Allen Center for Noninvasive Brain Stimulation, Department of Neurology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA; Charité - University Medicine Berlin, Department of Neurology, Movement Disorder and Neuromodulation Unit, Germany. Electronic address: ahorn1@bidmc.harvard.edu.
Andreas
A
Horn
Charité - University Medicine Berlin, Department of Neurology, Movement Disorder and Neuromodulation Unit, Germany.
Andrea A
AA
Kühn
Charité - University Medicine Berlin, Department of Neurology, Movement Disorder and Neuromodulation Unit, Germany.
Angela
A
Merkl
Berenson-Allen Center for Noninvasive Brain Stimulation, Department of Neurology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA.
Ludy
L
Shih
Berenson-Allen Center for Noninvasive Brain Stimulation, Department of Neurology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA; Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Neurosurgery Department, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215.
Ron
R
Alterman
Berenson-Allen Center for Noninvasive Brain Stimulation, Department of Neurology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA; Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Charlestown, MA, USA.
Michael
M
Fox
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001271:Atlases as Topic; D001921:Brain / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D001931:Brain Mapping / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D046690:Deep Brain Stimulation / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged