Visual Rating System for Assessing Magnetic Resonance Images

• DOI: 10.1097/rct.0b013e31816373d8
• Publication Date: 2009-02-02T08:51:51Z
• Authors: Raksha Urs; Elizabeth Potter; Warren Barker; Jason Appel; David A. Loewenstein; Weizhao Zhao; Ranjan Duara
• Keywords: Inter-Rater Reliability; Entorhinal cortex; Kappa; Perirhinal cortex

Subjects with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer disease (AD) can be distinguished from elderly subjects no (NCI) by the degree of atrophy in entorhinal cortex (ERC) hippocampus (HPC), quantified volumetric magnetic resonance image (MRI) studies. Because MRI requires rigorous standards for acquisition analysis is not suitable routine clinical use, we have used calibrated visual rating to measure ERC, HPC, perirhinal (PRC) evaluated its utility diagnosis very early AD. Methods: Thus far, methods, which been found reliable sensitive only measurement HPC or entire medial temporal region, relatively insensitive discriminating AD NCI subjects. We developed a computer-based system (VRS) using reference images calibration ratings several discrete brain regions, including PRC. The VRS facilitate training raters promote standardization all ratings. Interrater intrarater reliability measurements were assessed; subsequently, ability discriminate diagnoses among 73 was studied (NCI = 27, MCI 23, 23). Results: Kappa values interrater PRC between 0.75 0.94, reliability, they 0.84 0.93, indicating that enables highly obtained. Atrophy but did distinguish who tended intermediate levels atrophy. Right left ERC right Conclusions: first semiquantitative method atrophy, best discriminator Visual user-friendly tool allow radiologist clinician use structural scans as biomarker prodromal