Feasibility of Connectivity-Based Classification of the Preterm Corpus Callosum at Term Equivalent Age

Kerstin Pannek¹, Giulia D'Acunto², Andrea Guzzetta³, Paul Colditz¹, Stephen Rose¹

The corpus callosum (CC) is a major white matter fibre bundle, enabling the efficient interhemispheric transfer of information in the brain. In infants born preterm, development of the CC is often compromised, which can impact on motor and cognitive function later in life. Morphology of the CC can be analyzed using structural imaging, while its microstructure can be assessed with diffusion imaging. We investigate the feasibility of using diffusion tractography to automatically segment the CC based on its cortical connections in a cohort of very preterm infants scanned at term equivalent age.