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Development of an MRI rating scale for multiple brain regions: comparison with volumetrics and with voxel-based morphometry

  • Diagnostic Neuroradiology
  • Published:
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Abstract

Introduction

We aimed to devise a rating method for key frontal and temporal brain regions validated against quantitative volumetric methods and applicable to a range of dementia syndromes.

Methods

Four standardised coronal MR images from 36 subjects encompassing controls and cases with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD) were used. After initial pilot studies, 15 regions produced good intra- and inter-rater reliability. We then validated the ratings against manual volumetry and voxel-based morphometry (VBM) and compared ratings across the subject groups.

Results

Validation against both manual volumetry (for both frontal and temporal lobes), and against whole brain VBM, showed good correlation with visual ratings for the majority of the brain regions. Comparison of rating scores across disease groups showed involvement of the anterior fusiform gyrus, anterior hippocampus and temporal pole in semantic dementia, while anterior cingulate and orbitofrontal regions were involved in behavioural variant FTD.

Conclusion

This simple visual rating can be used as an alternative to highly technical methods of quantification, and may be superior when dealing with single cases or small groups.

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Acknowledgements

We are grateful for the practical support of Addenbrooke’s Hospital MRI Department and that of the Wolfson Brian Imaging Centre. RD and AG were funded by Wellcome Trust Clinical Training Fellowships; RD is also in receipt of a Sackler Fund Award. KG holds an Alzheimer’s Research Trust Programme Grant; JRH was funded by the Medical Research Council and is now supported by an Australian Research Council Federation Fellowship (FF0776229).

Conflict of interest statement

We declare that we have no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, R3 Box 83, Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge, CB2 2QQ, UK

    R. Rhys Davies, Andrew Graham, Guy B. Williams & John R. Hodges

  2. MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, Cambridge and Wales Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, School of Psychology, Cardiff University, Cardiff, CB2 7EF, UK

    Victoria L. Scahill, Andrew Graham, Kim S. Graham & John R. Hodges

  3. Cognitive Neurology, Prince of Wales Medical Research Institute, Barker Street Randwick, Sydney, NSW, 2031, Australia

    John R. Hodges

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  1. R. Rhys Davies
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  2. Victoria L. Scahill
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  3. Andrew Graham
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  4. Guy B. Williams
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  5. Kim S. Graham
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Correspondence to John R. Hodges.

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Davies, R.R., Scahill, V.L., Graham, A. et al. Development of an MRI rating scale for multiple brain regions: comparison with volumetrics and with voxel-based morphometry. Neuroradiology 51, 491–503 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00234-009-0521-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00234-009-0521-z

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