Abstract #3362

Impact of Segmentation Errors on QSM-based Brain Iron Estimation

Fahad Salman^1,2, Niels P. Bergsland¹, Michael G. Dwyer^1,3, Bianca Weinstock-Guttman⁴, Robert Zivadinov^1,5, and Ferdinand Schweser^1,5

¹Buffalo Neuroimaging Analysis Center, Department of Neurology at the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, Buffalo, NY, United States, ²Department of Biomedical Engineering, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, Buffalo, NY, United States, ³Center for Biomedical Imaging, Clinical and Translational Science Institute, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, United States, ⁴Jacobs Multiple Sclerosis Center, Department of Neurology, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, Buffalo, NY, United States, ⁵Center for Biomedical Imaging, Clinical and Translational Science Institute, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, Buffalo, NY, United States

Synopsis

Keywords: Multiple Sclerosis, Susceptibility, susceptibility, MS, DGM, iron content, volume, FSL FIRST, B-JLF, segmentation

Motivation: Studies have proposed iron content as an atrophy-independent metric in MS to study iron dyshomeostatis, however, existing T1-based segmentation tools like FSL FIRST may introduce systematic errors, potentially biasing group differences.

Goal(s): To evaluate the effect of segmentation choice on DGM iron content measurements in MS where atrophy is common.

Approach: We compared FSL FIRST and an enhanced bi-parametric joint label fusion (B-JLF) segmentation method in 109 people with MS and 55 healthy controls.

Results: FIRST’s segmentation errors introduced a bias that affected the group differences in iron content, whereas B-JLF yielding more reliable results.

Impact: This study highlights that segmentation method choice impacts clinical findings on iron pathology in MS, underscoring the importance of accurate segmentation for unbiased interpretation of neuroimaging data.

How to access this content:

For one year after publication, abstracts and videos are only open to registrants of this annual meeting. Registrants should use their existing login information. Non-registrant access can be purchased via the ISMRM E-Library.

After one year, current ISMRM & ISMRT members get free access to both the abstracts and videos. Non-members and non-registrants must purchase access via the ISMRM E-Library.

After two years, the meeting proceedings (abstracts) are opened to the public and require no login information. Videos remain behind password for access by members, registrants and E-Library customers.

Click here for more information on becoming a member.