Interpolation of orientation distribution functions in diffusion weighted imaging using multi-tensor model

• Published in: Journal of neuroscience methods Vol. 253; pp. 28 - 37
• Main Authors: Afzali, Maryam, Fatemizadeh, Emad, Soltanian-Zadeh, Hamid
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 30.09.2015
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Algorithms; Brain - physiology; Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Diffusion weighted imaging (DWI); Epilepsy, Temporal Lobe - pathology; Epilepsy, Temporal Lobe - physiopathology; Female; Fuzzy Logic; Humans; Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted; Interpolation; Male; Middle Aged; Models, Neurological; Multi-tensor; Orientation; Orientation distribution function (ODF); Pattern Recognition, Automated; Sensitivity and Specificity; Temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE); Young Adult; Interpolation; Orientation distribution function (ODF); Temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE); Diffusion weighted imaging (DWI); Multi-tensor
• ISSN: 0165-0270; 1872-678X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jneumeth.2015.06.007

•A method is proposed to improve results of diffusion weighted imaging (DWI).•The proposed method interpolates orientation distribution functions (ODFs).•It uses fuzzy clustering to segment ODFs based on principal diffusion directions.•The method is applied to synthetic and real DWI of control and epileptic subjects.•The method improves differentiation of epileptic patients from normal subjects. Diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) is a non-invasive method for investigating the brain white matter structure and can be used to evaluate fiber bundles. However, due to practical constraints, DWI data acquired in clinics are low resolution. This paper proposes a method for interpolation of orientation distribution functions (ODFs). To this end, fuzzy clustering is applied to segment ODFs based on the principal diffusion directions (PDDs). Next, a cluster is modeled by a tensor so that an ODF is represented by a mixture of tensors. For interpolation, each tensor is rotated separately. The method is applied on the synthetic and real DWI data of control and epileptic subjects. Both experiments illustrate capability of the method in increasing spatial resolution of the data in the ODF field properly. The real dataset show that the method is capable of reliable identification of differences between temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) patients and normal subjects. The method is compared to existing methods. Comparison studies show that the proposed method generates smaller angular errors relative to the existing methods. Another advantage of the method is that it does not require an iterative algorithm to find the tensors. The proposed method is appropriate for increasing resolution in the ODF field and can be applied to clinical data to improve evaluation of white matter fibers in the brain.