Skip to main content
Top
Published in: BMC Neurology 1/2015

Open Access 01-12-2015 | Research article

Disparate voxel based morphometry (VBM) results between SPM and FSL softwares in ALS patients with frontotemporal dementia: which VBM results to consider?

Authors: Venkateswaran Rajagopalan, Erik P Pioro

Published in: BMC Neurology | Issue 1/2015

Login to get access

Abstract

Background

Because our previous study showed disparate voxel based morphometry (VBM) results between SPM and FSL softwares in the brain of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients with frontotemporal dementia (ALS-FTD), we investigated which VBM results may more represent atrophy by comparing with Freesurfer’s cortical volume and thickness measures.

Methods

MRI at 1.5 T was obtained during routine clinical imaging of ALS-FTD patients (n = 18) and in unaffected neurologic controls (n = 15). Gray matter (GM) VBM analysis was carried out using FSL and SPM. Cortical thickness and volume analysis was performed using Freesurfer.

Results

GM volume was significantly (p < 0.05) reduced in both motor and extra motor regions in ALS- FTD when compared to unaffected neurologic controls in FSL and Freesurfer but not in SPM. Dice similarity index for cortical GM volume changes between FSL and Freesurfer was 0.30 for motor and 0.31 for non-motor regions as opposed to 0 (motor) and 0.02 (non-motor) between SPM and Freesurfer.

Conclusion

GM volume changes using FSL showed similar pattern with Freesurfer cortical volume and thickness changes in contrast to SPM results. Our results suggest that, at least for our dataset, VBM results obtained using FSL software should be considered as more representative of GM atrophy.
Literature
1.
2.
go back to reference Chang JL, Lomen-Hoerth C, Murphy J, Henry RG, Kramer JH, Miller BL, et al. A voxel-based morphometry study of patterns of brain atrophy in ALS and ALS/FTLD. Neurology. 2005;65:75–80.CrossRefPubMed Chang JL, Lomen-Hoerth C, Murphy J, Henry RG, Kramer JH, Miller BL, et al. A voxel-based morphometry study of patterns of brain atrophy in ALS and ALS/FTLD. Neurology. 2005;65:75–80.CrossRefPubMed
3.
go back to reference Mezzapesa DM, Ceccarelli A, Dicuonzo F, Carella A, De Caro MF, Lopez M, et al. Whole-brain and regional brain atrophy in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 2007;28:255–9.CrossRefPubMed Mezzapesa DM, Ceccarelli A, Dicuonzo F, Carella A, De Caro MF, Lopez M, et al. Whole-brain and regional brain atrophy in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 2007;28:255–9.CrossRefPubMed
4.
go back to reference Abrahams S, Goldstein LH, Suckling J, Ng V, Simmons A, Chitnis X, et al. Frontotemporal white matter changes in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. J Neurol. 2005;252:321–31.CrossRefPubMed Abrahams S, Goldstein LH, Suckling J, Ng V, Simmons A, Chitnis X, et al. Frontotemporal white matter changes in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. J Neurol. 2005;252:321–31.CrossRefPubMed
5.
go back to reference Ellis CM, Suckling J, Amaro Jr E, Bullmore ET, Simmons A, Williams SC, et al. Volumetric analysis reveals corticospinal tract degeneration and extramotor involvement in ALS. Neurology. 2001;57:1571–8.CrossRefPubMed Ellis CM, Suckling J, Amaro Jr E, Bullmore ET, Simmons A, Williams SC, et al. Volumetric analysis reveals corticospinal tract degeneration and extramotor involvement in ALS. Neurology. 2001;57:1571–8.CrossRefPubMed
6.
go back to reference Rajagopalan V, Yue G, Pioro EP: Do Preprocessing Algorithms and Statistical Models Influence VBM Results in ALS Patients? A Systematic Comparison of Two VBM Analytical Methods. Journal of Magnetic Resonance Imaging 2013:‘in press’. Rajagopalan V, Yue G, Pioro EP: Do Preprocessing Algorithms and Statistical Models Influence VBM Results in ALS Patients? A Systematic Comparison of Two VBM Analytical Methods. Journal of Magnetic Resonance Imaging 2013:‘in press’.
7.
go back to reference Clarkson MJ, Cardoso MJ, Ridgway GR, Modat M, Leung KK, Rohrer JD, et al. A comparison of voxel and surface based cortical thickness estimation methods. NeuroImage. 2011;57:856–65.CrossRefPubMed Clarkson MJ, Cardoso MJ, Ridgway GR, Modat M, Leung KK, Rohrer JD, et al. A comparison of voxel and surface based cortical thickness estimation methods. NeuroImage. 2011;57:856–65.CrossRefPubMed
8.
go back to reference Klein A, Andersson J, Ardekani BA, Ashburner J, Avants B, Chiang MC, et al. Evaluation of 14 nonlinear deformation algorithms applied to human brain MRI registration. NeuroImage. 2009;46:786–802.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral Klein A, Andersson J, Ardekani BA, Ashburner J, Avants B, Chiang MC, et al. Evaluation of 14 nonlinear deformation algorithms applied to human brain MRI registration. NeuroImage. 2009;46:786–802.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
9.
go back to reference Smith SM, Jenkinson M, Woolrich MW, Beckmann CF, Behrens TE, Johansen-Berg H, et al. Advances in functional and structural MR image analysis and implementation as FSL. NeuroImage. 2004;23 Suppl 1:S208–219.CrossRefPubMed Smith SM, Jenkinson M, Woolrich MW, Beckmann CF, Behrens TE, Johansen-Berg H, et al. Advances in functional and structural MR image analysis and implementation as FSL. NeuroImage. 2004;23 Suppl 1:S208–219.CrossRefPubMed
10.
go back to reference Good CD, Johnsrude IS, Ashburner J, Henson RN, Friston KJ, Frackowiak RS. A voxel-based morphometric study of ageing in 465 normal adult human brains. NeuroImage. 2001;14:21–36.CrossRefPubMed Good CD, Johnsrude IS, Ashburner J, Henson RN, Friston KJ, Frackowiak RS. A voxel-based morphometric study of ageing in 465 normal adult human brains. NeuroImage. 2001;14:21–36.CrossRefPubMed
12.
go back to reference Popescu V, Battaglini M, Hoogstrate WS, Verfaillie SC, Sluimer IC, van Schijndel RA, et al. Optimizing parameter choice for FSL-Brain Extraction Tool (BET) on 3D T1 images in multiple sclerosis. NeuroImage. 2012;61:1484–94.CrossRefPubMed Popescu V, Battaglini M, Hoogstrate WS, Verfaillie SC, Sluimer IC, van Schijndel RA, et al. Optimizing parameter choice for FSL-Brain Extraction Tool (BET) on 3D T1 images in multiple sclerosis. NeuroImage. 2012;61:1484–94.CrossRefPubMed
13.
go back to reference Zhang Y, Brady M, Smith S. Segmentation of brain MR images through a hidden Markov random field model and the expectation-maximization algorithm. IEEE Trans Med Imaging. 2001;20:45–57.CrossRefPubMed Zhang Y, Brady M, Smith S. Segmentation of brain MR images through a hidden Markov random field model and the expectation-maximization algorithm. IEEE Trans Med Imaging. 2001;20:45–57.CrossRefPubMed
14.
go back to reference Jenkinson M, Smith S. A global optimisation method for robust affine registration of brain images. Med Image Anal. 2001;5:143–56.CrossRefPubMed Jenkinson M, Smith S. A global optimisation method for robust affine registration of brain images. Med Image Anal. 2001;5:143–56.CrossRefPubMed
15.
go back to reference Jenkinson MBP, Brady JM, Smith SM. Improved optimisation for the robust and accurate linear registration and motion correction of brain images. NeuroImage. 2002;17:825–41.CrossRefPubMed Jenkinson MBP, Brady JM, Smith SM. Improved optimisation for the robust and accurate linear registration and motion correction of brain images. NeuroImage. 2002;17:825–41.CrossRefPubMed
16.
17.
go back to reference Segonne F, Dale AM, Busa E, Glessner M, Salat D, Hahn HK, et al. A hybrid approach to the skull stripping problem in MRI. NeuroImage. 2004;22:1060–75.CrossRefPubMed Segonne F, Dale AM, Busa E, Glessner M, Salat D, Hahn HK, et al. A hybrid approach to the skull stripping problem in MRI. NeuroImage. 2004;22:1060–75.CrossRefPubMed
18.
go back to reference Fischl B, Salat D, Busa E, Albert M, Dieterich M, Haselgrove C, et al. Whole brain segmentation: automated labeling of neuroanatomical structures in the human brain. Neuron. 2002;33:341–55.CrossRefPubMed Fischl B, Salat D, Busa E, Albert M, Dieterich M, Haselgrove C, et al. Whole brain segmentation: automated labeling of neuroanatomical structures in the human brain. Neuron. 2002;33:341–55.CrossRefPubMed
19.
go back to reference Fischl B, Sereno MI, Dale AM. Cortical surface-based analysis. II: Inflation, flattening, and a surface-based coordinate system. NeuroImage. 1999;9:195–207.CrossRefPubMed Fischl B, Sereno MI, Dale AM. Cortical surface-based analysis. II: Inflation, flattening, and a surface-based coordinate system. NeuroImage. 1999;9:195–207.CrossRefPubMed
20.
21.
go back to reference Zou KH, Warfield SK, Bharatha A, Tempany CM, Kaus MR, Haker SJ, et al. Statistical validation of image segmentation quality based on a spatial overlap index. Acad Radiol. 2004;11:178–89.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral Zou KH, Warfield SK, Bharatha A, Tempany CM, Kaus MR, Haker SJ, et al. Statistical validation of image segmentation quality based on a spatial overlap index. Acad Radiol. 2004;11:178–89.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
22.
go back to reference Klein A, Ghosh SS, Avants B, Yeo BT, Fischl B, Ardekani B, et al. Evaluation of volume-based and surface-based brain image registration methods. NeuroImage. 2010;51:214–20.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral Klein A, Ghosh SS, Avants B, Yeo BT, Fischl B, Ardekani B, et al. Evaluation of volume-based and surface-based brain image registration methods. NeuroImage. 2010;51:214–20.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
23.
go back to reference Yip S, Chen AB, Aerts HJ, Berbeco R. Sensitivity study of voxel-based PET image comparison to image registration algorithms. Med Phys. 2014;41:111714.CrossRefPubMed Yip S, Chen AB, Aerts HJ, Berbeco R. Sensitivity study of voxel-based PET image comparison to image registration algorithms. Med Phys. 2014;41:111714.CrossRefPubMed
24.
go back to reference Verstraete E, Veldink JH, Hendrikse J, Schelhaas HJ, Van Den Heuvel MP, Van Den Berg LH. Structural MRI reveals cortical thinning in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 2012;83:383–8.CrossRefPubMed Verstraete E, Veldink JH, Hendrikse J, Schelhaas HJ, Van Den Heuvel MP, Van Den Berg LH. Structural MRI reveals cortical thinning in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 2012;83:383–8.CrossRefPubMed
Metadata
Title
Disparate voxel based morphometry (VBM) results between SPM and FSL softwares in ALS patients with frontotemporal dementia: which VBM results to consider?
Authors
Venkateswaran Rajagopalan
Erik P Pioro
Publication date
01-12-2015
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Neurology / Issue 1/2015
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2377
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12883-015-0274-8

Other articles of this Issue 1/2015

BMC Neurology 1/2015 Go to the issue