Method for Combining Information from White matter Fiber Tracking and Gray Matter Parcellation

H. J. Park, M. Kubicki, C.-F. Westin, I. F. Talos, A. Brun, S. Pieper, R. Kikinis, F. A. Jolesz, R. W. McCarley, M. E. Shenton
American Journal of Neuroradiology
Volume 25, Pages 1318-1324
2004

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Abstract

Diffusion tensor (DT) imaging (1) makes possible the visualization and appreciation of white matter tracts in the brain and provides important information about brain connectivity. DT images, however, provide less accuracy and lower resolution than do structural images. Accordingly, combining information from gray matter parcellation from high-spatialresolution structural MR imaging with DT-MR imaging fiber tracking (2, 3) has the potential of providing more information about brain structure and the identification of fiber bundles. Herein we introduce a method for combining information from white matter fiber bundles with cortical gray matter parcellation to demonstrate how anatomic structures of gray matter can be used for localizing and following the white matter fiber bundles; how we can visualize white matter in combination with structural gray matter; and how this combination of methods can be used for clinical applications, such as for evaluating a tumor case.

Tractography and cortical parcellation of tumor brain. Upper left panel shows the whole tractography with a cross-section of gray and white matter surface. The cortical parcellation of the gray matter surface is displayed in color. Upper right panel shows a cross-section view of white matter overlaid with the gray matter-white matter surface. The tumor is colored as white. Lower panels show the fibers (in blue) originating from the right precentral gyrus (blue color in cortex) and located closest to the tumor. CC, corpus callosum; SLF, superior longitudinal fasciculus; CB, cingulum bundle; AF, arcuate fibers; IC, internal capsule; PL, posterior limb; CST, corticospinal tract; SCP, superior cerebellar peduncle; STG, superior temporal gyrus; MTG, middle temporal gyrus; PrG, precentral gyrus; and LV, lateral ventricle.

Reference

Park HJ, Kubicki M, Westin CF, Talos IF, Brun A, Pieper S, Kikinis R, Jolesz FA, McCarley RW, Shenton ME. Method for combining information from white matter fiber tracking and gray matter parcellation. American Journal of Neuroradiology 2004;25:1318-1324.

Bibtex entry

@Article{parkAJNR04,
  author         = {H. J. Park and M. Kubicki and C.-F. Westin and I. F. Talos 
                   and A. Brun and S. Pieper and R. Kikinis and F. A. Jolesz   
                   and R. W. Mc{C}arley and M. E. Shenton},                    
  title          = {Method for Combining Information from White matter Fiber   
                   Tracking  and Gray Matter Parcellation},                    
  journal        = {American Journal of Neuroradiology},                       
  year           = {2004},                                                     
  volume         = {25},                                                       
  pages          = {1318--1324},                                               
  note           = {}
}

Grants

NIH P41-RR13218 (NAC)

Research areas

DTMRI, Tensor