Approaches to Normalization of Spinal Cord Volume: Application to Multiple Sclerosis

Brian C. Healy; Ashish Arora; Douglas L. Hayden; Antonia Ceccarelli; Shahamat S. Tauhid; Mohit Neema; Rohit Bakshi

doi:10.1111/j.1552-6569.2011.00629.x

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Approaches to Normalization of Spinal Cord Volume: Application to Multiple Sclerosis

Journal article

Peer reviewed

Approaches to Normalization of Spinal Cord Volume: Application to Multiple Sclerosis

Brian C. Healy, Ashish Arora, Douglas L. Hayden, Antonia Ceccarelli, Shahamat S. Tauhid, Mohit Neema and Rohit Bakshi

Journal of neuroimaging, Vol.22(3), pp.E12-E19

07/2012

DOI: 10.1111/j.1552-6569.2011.00629.x

PMCID: PMC3290735

PMID: 21854479

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https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/3290735View

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Abstract

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE To determine the proper method for the normalization of spinal cord volume. MATERIALS AND METHODS A group of 34 multiple sclerosis (MS) patients (28 relapsing and 6 progressive) and 15 healthy controls had whole spinal cord 3-mm thick T2-weighted axial fast spin-echo magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) images obtained at 3T. For each participant, four volumes were measured (C2-3 volume, cervical cord volume, thoracic cord volume, and whole cord volume). The volumes were normalized by the number of slices and three potential measures of body size (intracranial volume [ICV], body mass index, and body surface area) using the proportional method. RESULTS All raw volumes and volumes normalized by number of slices or ICV were significantly lower in progressive MS patients compared to relapsing MS patients/healthy controls (P < .05). In addition, C2-3 volume and cervical cord volume were significantly correlated with Expanded Disability Status Scale score (P < .05). All regional volumes showed high intercorrelation, and normalization by the number of slices significantly increased some correlations. Regarding reliability, whole cord volume regardless of normalization technique had lower coefficient of variation than C2-3 volume. CONCLUSIONS Since normalization factor had limited impact on reliability and the ability to detect differences, normalization by the number of slices is recommended.

Clinical Neurology

Life Sciences & Biomedicine

Neuroimaging

Neurosciences & Neurology

Radiology, Nuclear Medicine & Medical Imaging

Science & Technology

Details

Title: Subtitle: Approaches to Normalization of Spinal Cord Volume: Application to Multiple Sclerosis
Creators: Brian C. Healy - Brigham and Women's Hospital
Ashish Arora - Brigham and Women's Hospital
Douglas L. Hayden - Brigham and Women's Hospital
Antonia Ceccarelli - Harvard University
Shahamat S. Tauhid - Brigham and Women's Hospital
Mohit Neema - Brigham and Women's Hospital
Rohit Bakshi - Brigham and Women's Hospital
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Journal of neuroimaging, Vol.22(3), pp.E12-E19
DOI: 10.1111/j.1552-6569.2011.00629.x
PMID: 21854479
PMCID: PMC3290735
NLM abbreviation: J Neuroimaging
ISSN: 1051-2284
eISSN: 1552-6569
Publisher: Wiley
Number of pages: 8
Grant note: NMSS-RG 3705-A-1 / National MS Society; National Multiple Sclerosis Society R01NS055083 / NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF NEUROLOGICAL DISORDERS AND STROKE; United States Department of Health & Human Services; National Institutes of Health (NIH) - USA; NIH National Institute of Neurological Disorders & Stroke (NINDS) 1 R01 NS055083-01 / NIH; United States Department of Health & Human Services; National Institutes of Health (NIH) - USA
Language: English
Date published: 07/2012
Academic Unit: Psychiatry
Record Identifier: 9984627323602771

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