Reproducibility of automated calculation technique for diffusion tensor image analysis along the perivascular space

• Published in: Japanese journal of radiology Vol. 41; no. 9; pp. 947 - 954
• Main Authors: Saito, Yuya, Kamagata, Koji, Andica, Christina, Uchida, Wataru, Takabayashi, Kaito, Yoshida, Seina, Nakaya, Moto, Tanaka, Yuya, Kamiyo, Satoru, Sato, Kanako, Nishizawa, Mitsuo, Akashi, Toshiaki, Shimoji, Keigo, Wada, Akihiko, Aoki, Shigeki
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Singapore Springer Nature Singapore 01.09.2023; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Alzheimer's disease; Anisotropy; Attention; Automation; Cognitive ability; Fluid dynamics; Hydrodynamics; Image analysis; Image processing; Imaging; Magnetic resonance imaging; Mathematical analysis; Medical imaging; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Neurodegenerative diseases; Nuclear Medicine; Original Article; Radiology; Radiotherapy; Reproducibility; Tensors; Glymphatic system; Along the perivascular space index; Diffusion magnetic resonance imaging; Reproducibility; Diffusion tensor imaging
• ISSN: 1867-1071; 1867-108X
• DOI: 10.1007/s11604-023-01415-0

Purpose The method of diffusion tensor image analysis along the perivascular space (DTI-ALPS) was gathering attention to evaluate the brain’s glymphatic function or interstitial fluid dynamics. However, to the best knowledge, no study was conducted on the reproducibility of these automated methods for ALPS index values. Therefore, the current study evaluated the ALPS index reproducibility based on DTI-ALPS using two major automated calculation techniques in scan and rescan of the same subject on the same day. Materials and methods This study included 23 participants, including 2 with Alzheimer’s disease, 15 with mild cognitive impairment, and 6 with cognitive normals. Scan and rescan data of diffusion magnetic resonance images were obtained, as well as automatically index for ALPS (ALPS index) and ALPS index maintaining tensor vector orientation information (vALPS index) with region of interest on the template fractional anisotropy map calculated by FSL software.These ALPS indices were compared in terms of scan and rescan reproducibility. Results The absolute difference in ALPS-index values between scan and rescan was larger in the ALPS index than in the vALPS index by approximately 0.6% as the relative difference. Cohen’s d for the left and right ALPS indices between methods were 0.121 and 0.159, respectively. Conclusion The vALPS index based on DTI-ALPS maintaining tensor vector orientation information has higher reproducibility than the ALPS index. This result encourages a multisite study on the ALPS index with a large sample size and helps detect a subtle pathological change in the ALPS index.