Validation of Automated White Matter Hyperintensity Segmentation

Abstract EN

Introduction.

White matter hyperintensities (WMHs) are a common finding on MRI scans of older people and are associated with vascular disease.

We compared 3 methods for automatically segmenting WMHs from MRI scans.

Method.

An operator manually segmented WMHs on MRI images from a 3T scanner.

The scans were also segmented in a fully automated fashion by three different programmes.

The voxel overlap between manual and automated segmentation was compared.

Results.

Between observer overlap ratio was 63%.

Using our previously described in-house software, we had overlap of 62.2%.

We investigated the use of a modified version of SPM segmentation; however, this was not successful, with only 14% overlap.

Discussion.

Using our previously reported software, we demonstrated good segmentation of WMHs in a fully automated fashion.