Scan–rescan and inter-vendor reproducibility of neurite orientation dispersion and density imaging metrics

Abstract

Purpose The reproducibility of neurite orientation dispersion and density imaging (NODDI) metrics in the human brain has not been explored across different magnetic resonance (MR) scanners from different vendors. This study aimed to evaluate the scanrescan and inter-vendor reproducibility of NODDI metrics in white and gray matter of healthy subjects using two 3-T MR scanners from two vendors. Methods Ten healthy subjects (7 males; mean age 30 ± 7 years, range 23-37 years) were included in the study. Whole-brain diffusion-weighted imaging was performed with b-values of 1000 and 2000 s/mm 2 using two 3-T MR scanners from two different vendors. Automatic extraction of the region of interest was performed to obtain NODDI metrics for whole and localized areas of white and gray matter. The coefficient of variation (CoV) and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) were calculated to assess the scan-rescan and inter-vendor reproducibilities of NODDI metrics. Results The scan-rescan and inter-vendor reproducibility of NODDI metrics (intracellular volume fraction and orientation dispersion index) were comparable with those of diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) metrics. However, the inter-vendor reproducibilities of NODDI (CoV = 2.3-14%) were lower than the scan-rescan reproducibility (CoV: scanner A = 0.8-3.8%; scanner B = 0.8-2.6%). Compared with the finding of DTI metrics, the reproducibility of NODDI metrics was lower in white matter and higher in gray matter. Conclusion The lower inter-vendor reproducibility of NODDI in some brain regions indicates that data acquired from different MRI scanners should be carefully interpreted.

MASiVar: Multisite, Multiscanner, and Multisubject Acquisitions for Studying Variability in Diffusion Weighted Magnetic Resonance Imaging

“…Additionally, the within and between scanner intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) for regional FA have previously been estimated at 0.90-0.99 and 0.82-0.99, respectively (Vollmar et al, 2010), and at 0.74-1.00 and 0.54-0.97, respectively (Andica et al, 2020). Other studies have placed the ICC for the cVF, iVF, and ODI NODDI measures in white matter regions at 0.133-0.997, 0.773-0.989, and 0.789-0.998, respectively, for between session analysis and at 0.013-0.545, 0.300-0.935, and 0.181-0.962 for between scanner analysis (Andica et al, 2020). Between session ICC for bundle volume and FA have been estimated at 0.53-0.96 and 0.65-0.94, respectively (Besseling et al, 2012), and between session ICC for global efficiency and characteristic path length have been calculated at 0.78 and 0.77, respectively.…”

“…The reproducibility of DWI analysis has received significant attention in the field, including the analysis of tensor representations (Andica et al, 2020; Magnotta et al, 2012; Palacios et al, 2017; Vollmar et al, 2010), multicompartment models (Andica et al, 2020; Tariq et al, 2013), tractography and bundle segmentation (Besseling et al, 2012; Nath et al, 2020), and connectomics (Prčkovska et al, 2016; Roine et al, 2019). However, these studies have each primarily focused on one type of approach and one or two levels of variation.…”

“…The same estimates of variability for regional MD have been estimated at roughly 1% and up to 2% (Magnotta et al, 2012) and 2% and 6% (Palacios et al, 2017). Another study put white matter FA between session and between scanner CVs at 0.5% and 2% and at 0.2% and 3% for MD, respectively (Andica et al, 2020). Intra- and intersession variability of FA for white matter regions have also been estimated with a CV of 2% and 3%, respectively, and at 1% for both for MD (Farrell et al, 2010).…”

“…Previously, one study estimated between session and between scanner CVs for NODDI measures at roughly 1-4% and 2-14%, respectively (Andica et al, 2020). Another study estimated the between session CV to be around 4-5% (Tariq et al, 2013).…”

Tractography Alterations in the Arcuate and Uncinate Fasciculi in Post-Stroke Aphasia

“…Outcome measures of interest included fractional anisotropy (FA), mean diffusivity (MD) and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) DTI is most commonly performed using a single-shot, spin-echo, echo planar image acquisition at b-values similar to those used for conventional DWI (typically b = 1000 s/mm 2 ). The scanners of MRI and the fiber tracking protocols at baseline and after three months were the same [ 19 , 20 ].…”