Anatomically-constrained tractography: Improved diffusion MRI streamlines tractography through effective use of anatomical information

• Published in: NeuroImage (Orlando, Fla.) Fla.), 2012-09, Vol.62 (3), p.1924-1938
• Main Authors: Smith, Robert E., Tournier, Jacques-Donald, Calamante, Fernando, Connelly, Alan
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Algorithms; Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder; Brain - anatomy & histology; Brain Mapping - methods; Brain research; Diffusion; Diffusion MRI; Diffusion Tensor Imaging - methods; Fibre-tracking; Humans; Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted - methods; Magnetic resonance imaging; Propagation; Streamlines; Tractography
• ISSN: 1053-8119; 1095-9572
• DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2012.06.005

Diffusion MRI streamlines tractography suffers from a number of inherent limitations, one of which is the accurate determination of when streamlines should be terminated. Use of an accurate streamlines propagation mask from segmentation of an anatomical image confines the streamlines to the volume of the brain white matter, but does not take full advantage of all of the information available from such an image. We present a modular addition to streamlines tractography, which makes more effective use of the information available from anatomical image segmentation, and the known properties of the neuronal axons being reconstructed, to apply biologically realistic priors to the streamlines generated; we refer to this as “Anatomically-Constrained Tractography”. Results indicate that some of the known false positives associated with tractography algorithms are prevented, such that the biological accuracy of the reconstructions should be improved, provided that state-of-the-art streamlines tractography methods are used. ► Modular improvement to diffusion MRI streamlines tractography. ► Effective use of anatomical information and biological priors. ► Prevents spurious streamline terminations for improved connectome reconstruction.