Hello,
I have successfully developed an automated algorithm combining pixel intensity-based and shape based approaches to segment the lateral ventricles. I have applied my algorithm to a small data set of 1.5 T1 ADNI images consisting of 24 AD (subjects with Alzheimer Disease) 19 MCI (subjects with Mild Cognitive Impairment) and 24 NEC (elderly controls). In my cases, particularly AD cases, I noticed that the segmentation of the lateral ventricles is connected to the third ventricle with foramina (usually 1 on a side or on both sides). Also, sometimes I find a connection with the posterior horn and third ventricle. I have researched CSF flow and from the literature, and all of these are real connections. I am near completion of developing an automated cropping scheme with a colleague to crop the third ventricle at these junctions.
Our implementation is a combination of C++ code that we have developed and modified ITK classes. We have been viewing our segmented label maps in Slicer3 and generated 3D renderings using Slicer3's Model Maker module which is based on Marching Cubes.
I have viewed a Freesurfer segmentation in Slicer3 based on a tutorial on the Slicer web site.
I presented a poster of our results at the AIC and AAIC conference which I am at now in Vancouver, and a few people have asked me to compare my volumes with other methods. They were particularly interested in comparing my volumes with Freesurfer ventricle volumes and cross-sectional and longitudinal data. I was told and found csv files on the ADNI web site of Freesurfer analysis. I plan to correlate my values with Freesurfer's values, but I would be interested if Freesurfer also finds these connections between the third ventricle and lateral ventricles and also if it includes isolated temporal horn pieces when the horns are discontinuous due to the MRI not being able to resolve a very thin portion of the temporal horn.
So, would it be possible, if I gave you a list of my ADNI subjects, for you to provide me the freesurfer label maps that correspond to the volumes in the csv files that are on the ADNI web site please? I could run Freesurfer but I would prefer having the label maps that exactly correspond to the Freesurfer ventricle volumes that are on the ADNI website. These would be from the two versions of Freesurfer noted on the ADNI web site in the ADNI Study Data/MRI image analysis link.
Thank you, John
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