Stereotactic statistical imaging analysis of the brain using the easy Z-score imaging system for sharing a normal database

Abstract

Statistical brain imaging analysis has good objectivity and reproducibility. In Japan, statistical parametric mapping (SPM) and three-dimensional stereotactic surface projections (3D-SSP) are used nationwide as statistical imaging analysis with standard brain coordinates. They often help to interpret brain single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) images by avoiding possible pitfalls (e.g., effects of aging, atrophy) with which clinicians are unfamiliar. However, this type of analysis presents a problem: statistical processing requires many normal subject images. The easy Z-score imaging system (eZIS) is one of the statistical analysis methods that uses SPM processing in normalization and smoothing, and it has the function of image conversion leading to statistical analysis without a control database. Therefore, statistical analysis can be used in clinical practice by sharing a prepared normal database. By unifying the image quality by processing a shared database, this program has great potential for sharing patient imaging data in many hospitals. It is expected that the eZIS will help perform detailed analysis in many functional diseases in collaborative studies. This article describes the interpretation of brain SPECT images and suggests the usefulness and potential of eZIS.

Frontal dysfunctions of ALS-PBP patients in relation to their bulbar symptoms and rCBF decline

“…The easy Z-score imaging system (eZIS) is a statistical analysis method that uses statistical parametric mapping (SPM) processing in normalization and smoothing, and enables image conversion leading to statistical analysis without a control database. Therefore, statistical analysis of regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) can be used in clinical practice by sharing a prepared normal database [12,13].…”

Comparative study of anatomical normalization errors in SPM and 3D-SSP using digital brain phantom

“…Statistical image analysis provides a useful diagnostic aid that helps quantitatively evaluate anatomical locations of lesions and cerebral abnormal accumulation and facilitate three-dimensional visual evaluation [21][22][23]. This analysis technique, however, presupposes the locational coincidence of a subject image and a normal database.…”

Which Cortical Area Is Related to the Development of Dysphagia after Stroke? A Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography Study Using Novel Analytic Methods

“…The vbSEE program prepared a distribution pattern of ROIs segmented into the Brodmann levels (level 5), in which the obtained brain coordinates correspond to anatomical information in accordance with Talairach Daemon [20], and conducted Z-value association between the coordinates in the prepared patterns of ROIs and the case coordinates [21]. Consequently, all the coordinates of each subject provided Z-value information.…”