摘要：Graphical abstractSegmentation of the Lateral Ventricular Perimeter (LVP), on an axial mean diffusivity map of an infant with postheorrhgaic hydrocephalus (PHH). A MATLAB-based script segments a homogenous LVP layer using high spatial resolution parameters (voxel size 1.2 × 1.2 × 1.2 mm3) to perform diffusion MRI analysis of the innermost layer of the LVP. The LVP, which comprises the ventricular zone (VZ), subventricular zone and the subjacent periventricular white matter (PVWM) is critical for forming a brain-CSF barrier and global cortical development (. In PHH, and other neurological conditions the LVP is disrupted and has been associated with severe neuromotor and cognitive impairment.Modified from Rodriguez et. al. 2012. Biol Res 45: 231-241Display OmittedAbstractThe lateral ventricular perimeter (LVP) of the brain is a critical region because in addition to housing neural stem cells required for brain development, it facilitates cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) bulk flow and functions as a blood-CSF barrier to protect periventricular white matter (PVWM) and other adjacent regions from injurious toxins. LVP injury is common, particularly among preterm infants who sustain intraventricular hemorrhage or post hemorrhagic hydrocephalus and has been associated with poor neurological outcomes. Assessment of the LVP with diffusion MRI has been challenging, primarily due to issues with partial volume artifacts since the LVP region is in close proximity to CSF and other structures of varying signal intensities that may be inadvertently included in LVP segmentation.This research method presents:•A novel MATLAB-based method to segment a homogenous LVP layer using high spatial resolution parameters (voxel size 1.2 × 1.2 × 1.2 mm3) to only capture the innermost layer of the LVP.•The segmented LVP is averaged from three contiguous axial slices to increase signal to noise ratio and reduce the effect of any residual volume averaging effect and eliminates manual and inter/intrarater-related errors.
关键词：Diffusion tensor imaging;Hydrocephalus;Intraventricular hemorrhage;Lateral ventricular perimeter;Preterm infant, Subventricular zone;Ventricular zone
