Volume 47, Issue 6 pp. 1626-1637

Original Research

Probabilistic tractography-based thalamic parcellation in healthy newborns and newborns with congenital heart disease

Camilo Jaimes MD,

Camilo Jaimes MD

Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

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Henry H. Cheng MD,

Henry H. Cheng MD

Department of Cardiology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

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Janet Soul MD,

Janet Soul MD

Department of Neurology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

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Silvina Ferradal PhD,

Silvina Ferradal PhD

Fetal-Neonatal Neuroimaging and Developmental Science Center, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

Department of Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

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Yogesh Rathi PhD,

Yogesh Rathi PhD

Laboratory of Mathematics in Imaging, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

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Borjan Gagoski PhD,

Borjan Gagoski PhD

Fetal-Neonatal Neuroimaging and Developmental Science Center, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

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Jane W. Newburger MD, MPH,

Jane W. Newburger MD, MPH

Department of Cardiology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

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P. Ellen Grant MD, MSc,

P. Ellen Grant MD, MSc

Fetal-Neonatal Neuroimaging and Developmental Science Center, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

Department of Radiology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

Department of Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

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Lilla Zöllei PhD,

Corresponding Author

Lilla Zöllei PhD

[email protected]

Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA; all: Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

Address reprint requests to: L.Z., Laboratory for Computational Neuroimaging, Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, 149 13^th St., Ste. 2301, Charlestown, MA 02129. E-mail: [email protected]Search for more papers by this author

Camilo Jaimes MD,

Camilo Jaimes MD

Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

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Henry H. Cheng MD,

Henry H. Cheng MD

Department of Cardiology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

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Janet Soul MD,

Janet Soul MD

Department of Neurology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

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Silvina Ferradal PhD,

Silvina Ferradal PhD

Fetal-Neonatal Neuroimaging and Developmental Science Center, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

Department of Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

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Yogesh Rathi PhD,

Yogesh Rathi PhD

Laboratory of Mathematics in Imaging, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

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Borjan Gagoski PhD,

Borjan Gagoski PhD

Fetal-Neonatal Neuroimaging and Developmental Science Center, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

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Jane W. Newburger MD, MPH,

Jane W. Newburger MD, MPH

Department of Cardiology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

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P. Ellen Grant MD, MSc,

P. Ellen Grant MD, MSc

Fetal-Neonatal Neuroimaging and Developmental Science Center, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

Department of Radiology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

Department of Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

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Lilla Zöllei PhD,

Corresponding Author

Lilla Zöllei PhD

[email protected]

Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA; all: Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

First published: 28 October 2017

https://doi.org/10.1002/jmri.25875

Citations: 13

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Abstract

Background

Given the central role of the thalamus in motor, sensory, and cognitive development, methods to study emerging thalamocortical connectivity in early infancy are of great interest.

Purpose

To determine the feasibility of performing probabilistic tractography-based thalamic parcellation (PTbTP) in typically developing (TD) neonates and to compare the results with a pilot sample of neonates with congenital heart disease (CHD).

Study type

Institutional Review Board (IRB)-approved cross-sectional study.

Model

We prospectively recruited 20 TD neonates and five CHD neonates (imaged preoperatively).

Field Strength/Sequence

MRI was performed at 3.0T including diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) and 3D magnetization prepared rapid gradient-echo (MPRAGE).

Assessment

A radiologist and trained research assistants segmented the thalamus and seven cortical targets for each hemisphere. Using the thalami as seeds and the cortical labels as targets, FSL library tools were used to generate probabilistic tracts. A Hierarchical Dirichlet Process algorithm was then used for clustering analysis. A radiologist qualitatively assessed the results of clustering. Quantitative analyses were also performed.

Statistical Tests

We summarized the demographic data and results of clustering with descriptive statistics. Linear regressions covarying for gestational age were used to compare groups.

Results

In 17 of 20 TD neonates, we identified five connectivity-determined clusters, which correlate with known thalamic nuclei and subnuclei. In four neonates with CHD we observed a spectrum of abnormalities including fewer and disorganized clusters or small supernumerary clusters (up to seven per thalamus). After covarying for differences in corrected gestational age (cGA), the fractional anisotropy (FA), volume, and normalized thalamic volume were significantly lower in CHD neonates (P < 0.01).

Data Conclusions

Using PTbTP clusters, correlating well with the location and connectivity of known thalamic nuclei, were identified in TD neonates. Differences in thalamic clustering outputs were identified in four neonates with CHD, raising concern for disordered thalamic connectivity. PTbTP is feasible in TD and CHD neonates. Preliminary findings suggest the prenatal origins of altered connectivity in CHD.

Level of Evidence: 2

Technical Efficacy: Stage 4

J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2018;47:1626–1637.

Supporting Information

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Citing Literature

Volume47, Issue6

June 2018

Pages 1626-1637

Filename	Description
jmri25875-sup-0001-suppinfofigure1.tiff367.1 KB	Supporting Information Figure 1
jmri25875-sup-0002-suppinfofigure2.tiff489.4 KB	Supporting Information Figure 2
jmri25875-sup-0003-suppinfofigure3.tiff843.6 KB	Supporting Information Figure 3
jmri25875-sup-0004-suppinfofigure4.tiff320.9 KB	Supporting Information Figure 4
jmri25875-sup-0005-suppinfofigure5.docx36.6 KB	Supporting Information

Probabilistic tractography-based thalamic parcellation in healthy newborns and newborns with congenital heart disease

Abstract

Background

Purpose

Study type

Model

Field Strength/Sequence

Assessment

Statistical Tests

Results

Data Conclusions

Supporting Information

References

Citing Literature

References

Information

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Probabilistic tractography-based thalamic parcellation in healthy newborns and newborns with congenital heart disease

Abstract

Background

Purpose

Study type

Model

Field Strength/Sequence

Assessment

Statistical Tests

Results

Data Conclusions

Supporting Information

References

Citing Literature

References

Related

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