Volume determination of amygdala and hippocampus at 1.5 and 3.0T MRI in temporal lobe epilepsy

Epilepsy Res. 2008 Nov;82(1):29-37. doi: 10.1016/j.eplepsyres.2008.06.012. Epub 2008 Aug 8.

Abstract

Since magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technique is constantly evolving with higher field strength scanners, the question arises whether images from different field strength scanners can be used interchangeably for scientific and clinical purposes. We address this issue in a study group of patients with temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE). Two different quantification methods for analysing structural (MRI) were used. Conventional volumetry was performed by manually tracing amygdala and hippocampus volumes on both 1.5 and 3T scans of 10 TLE patients. Additionally a voxel-based morphometry (VBM)-based extraction of those structures was conducted. As an answer to the main question, it was determined that the volumetrically derived volumes of amygdala and hippocampus from 1.5 and 3.0T images did not differ. Our findings concerning the volumetry are consistent with findings in healthy controls, thus offering the possibility to use volumetry of the different scanners interchangeably. The results of the VBM-analyses show satisfying inter-scanner volume quantification but not consistent enough to be deemed interchangeable. Further investigations analysing the outcomes of conventional VBM of different field strength scanners are necessary.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Amygdala / pathology*
  • Amygdala / surgery
  • Diagnostic Errors
  • Epilepsy, Temporal Lobe / etiology
  • Epilepsy, Temporal Lobe / pathology*
  • Epilepsy, Temporal Lobe / surgery
  • Female
  • Ganglioglioma / diagnosis
  • Hippocampus / pathology*
  • Hippocampus / surgery
  • Humans
  • Imaging, Three-Dimensional
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging / methods*
  • Male
  • Malformations of Cortical Development / complications
  • Malformations of Cortical Development / pathology
  • Middle Aged
  • Neuroectodermal Tumors, Primitive / complications
  • Neuroectodermal Tumors, Primitive / diagnosis
  • Neuroectodermal Tumors, Primitive / pathology
  • Neuroectodermal Tumors, Primitive / surgery
  • Organ Size
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Supratentorial Neoplasms / complications
  • Supratentorial Neoplasms / diagnosis
  • Supratentorial Neoplasms / pathology
  • Supratentorial Neoplasms / surgery
  • Young Adult