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A new semiautomated, three‐dimensional technique allowing precise quantification of total and regional cerebellar volume using MRI
Author(s) -
Luft Andreas R.,
Skalej Martin,
Welte Dorothea,
Kolb Rupert,
Biirk Katrin,
Schulz Jorg B.,
Klockgether Thomas,
Voigt Karsten
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
magnetic resonance in medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.696
H-Index - 225
eISSN - 1522-2594
pISSN - 0740-3194
DOI - 10.1002/mrm.1910400119
Subject(s) - cerebellar hemisphere , cerebellum , anatomy , volume (thermodynamics) , nuclear medicine , medicine , physics , psychology , neuroscience , quantum mechanics
Abstract A new method was developed to measure total and regional cerebellar volumes using MRI. Previously, the volumes of the cerebellum and its substructure had been studied planimetri‐cally. The new method uses three‐dimensional semiautomated volumetry with focus on reliability and performance. The method consists of a manual presegmentation using landmark‐adjusted planes followed by region‐growing segmentation and calculation of volume. The cerebellum is partitioned into 11 regions defined by planes, which are adjusted for internal cerebellar landmarks (three radial regions inside the vermis that extend into the medial hemisphere (one‐fourth of the transverse diameter of the hemisphere); one region in the lateral hemisphere (remaining three‐fourths)). Forty‐six healthy volunteers were examined and the effects of age, gender, and symmetry were estimated. Shrinkage in the vermis (especially anterior superior compartment) was marked. Age effects diminished laterally and were not observed in the lateral hemisphere. Age effects on the total cerebellar volume were marginal. Effects of gender and symmetry were nonsignificant. Technique and results are discussed and related to methods and findings of others.