An atlas of white matter anatomy, its variability, and reproducibility based on constrained spherical deconvolution of diffusion MRI

• DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2022.119029
• Publication Date: 2022-02-26T07:37:24Z
• Authors: Ahmed M. Radwan; Stefan Sunaert; Kurt Schilling; Maxime Descoteaux; Bennett A. Landman; Mathieu Vandenbulcke; Tom Theys; Patrick Dupont; Louise Emsell
• Keywords: Human Connectome Project; Fornix

Virtual dissection of white matter (WM) using diffusion MRI tractography is confounded by its poor reproducibility. Despite the increased adoption advanced reconstruction models, early region-of-interest driven protocols based on tensor imaging (DTI) remain dominant reference for virtual protocols. Here we bridge this gap providing a comprehensive description typical WM anatomy reconstructed reproducible automated subject-specific parcellation-based approach probabilistic constrained-spherical deconvolution (CSD) tractography. We complement with template in MNI space comprising 68 bundles, including all associated anatomical tract selection labels and workflows. Additionally, demonstrate bundle inter- intra-subject variability 40 (20 test-retest) datasets from human connectome project (HCP) 5 sessions varying b-values number b-shells single-subject Multiple Acquisitions Standardization Structural Imaging Validation Evaluation (MASSIVE) dataset. The most reliably bundles were whole pyramidal tracts, primary corticospinal superior longitudinal fasciculi, frontal, parietal occipital segments corpus callosum middle cerebellar peduncles. More was found less dense e.g., fornix, dentato-rubro-thalamic (DRTT), premotor tract. Using DRTT as an example, show that can be reduced higher seeding attempts. Overall inter-session similarity high HCP test-retest data (median weighted-dice = 0.963, stdev 0.201 IQR 0.099). Compared to HCP-template there level agreement 0.747, 0.220 0.277) MASSIVE 0.767, 0.255 0.338). In summary, atlas provides overview capabilities limitations CSD mapping fasciculi healthy adults. It will useful applications requiring protocol, educational resource applied neuroimaging clinical professionals.