Multi-site voxel-based morphometry — Not quite there yet

• Published in: NeuroImage (Orlando, Fla.) Vol. 56; no. 3; pp. 1164 - 1170
• Main Authors: Focke, N.K., Helms, G., Kaspar, S., Diederich, C., Tóth, V., Dechent, P., Mohr, A., Paulus, W.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.06.2011; Elsevier Limited
• Subjects: Algorithms; Bias; Brain Mapping - methods; Engineering and Technology; Humans; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted - methods; Linear Models; Magnetic Resonance Imaging - instrumentation; Magnetic Resonance Imaging - methods; Magnetic Resonance Imaging - statistics & numerical data; Medical Engineering; Medical Image Processing; Medical Imaging; Medicinsk bildbehandling; Medicinsk bildvetenskap; Medicinteknik; Multi-site; Regression Analysis; Reproducibility of Results; Scanners; Segmentation accuracy; Software; Studies; Teknik; Validation; Voxel-based morphometry; Validation; Segmentation accuracy; Bias; Voxel-based morphometry; Multi-site
• ISSN: 1053-8119; 1095-9572; 1095-9572
• DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2011.02.029

Voxel-based morphometry (VBM) is a widely applied method in computational neurosciences but it is currently recommended to compare only data collected at a single MRI scanner. Multi-site VBM would be a desirable approach to increase group size and, thus, statistical power. We aimed to assess if multi-site VBM is feasible on similar hardware and compare the magnitude of inter- and intra-scanner differences. 18 healthy subjects were scanned in two identical 3T MRI scanners using different head coil designs, twice in scanner A and once in scanner B. 3D T1-weighted images were processed with SPM8 and FSL4.1 and compared as paired t-test (scan versus re-scan) on a voxel basis by means of a general linear model (GLM). Additionally, coefficient-of-difference (coeffD) maps were calculated for respective pairs of gray matter segmentations. We found considerable inter-scanner differences clearly exceeding a commonly used GLM significance threshold of p<0.05 (FWE corrected). The spatial pattern of detected differences was dependent on whether SPM8 or FSL4.1 was used. The inclusion of global correcting factors either aggravated (SPM8) or reduced the GLM detected differences (FSL4.1). The coeffD analysis revealed markedly higher variability within the FSL4.1 stream both for the inter- and the intra-scanner comparison. A lowered bias cutoff (30mm FWHM) in SPM8 improved the comparability for cortical areas. Intra-scanner scan/re-scan differences were generally weaker and did not exceed a p<0.05 (FWE corrected) threshold in the GLM analysis. At 3T profound inter-scanner differences are to be expected that could severely confound an unbalanced VBM analysis. These are like related to the receive bias of the radio-frequency hardware. ► Scan-rescan VBM confirms considerable scanner-specific effects. ► SPM8 processing yield lower coefficient-of-difference compared to FSL4.1. ► Multi-site VBM remains challenging when using standard T1-weigthed MRI.