Use Case: Corpus Callosum (CC)

Researchers have conducted a study with patients suffering from schizophrenia to find out whether pathophysiological effects also significantly influence the anatomical structures of the corpus callosum.

The corpus callosum is the main bundle of neural fibers connecting both hemispheres of the brain, which is why it has become very important in pathophysiological models of schizophrenia. Depending on the individual, the anatomical shape of the corpus callosum can vary considerably. In MRI images, for example, the fornix structure sometimes seems to be directly attached to the corpus callosum. For a correct segmentation of the CC’s shape, the fornix has to be identified and – if necessary – removed during the image analysis process.

The reseachers used Definiens Developer to fully automatically segment the shape of the corpus callosum with seven mid-sagittal slices from anatomical T1-weighted MRI images. The data they gained from this was crucial for the statistical verification of significant anatomical variances based on the pathophysiological effects of schizophrenia.

In contrast to other image analysis approaches, using Definiens Developer eliminated the need to apply spatial normalization to the input data. This is particularly important as the volumetric measurements did not need to be distorted, meaning that the approach delivered more realistic and accurate analysis results.

In the next stage, the researchers used Definiens Developer to process the analysis results. They further segmented the detected structures of the CC into compartments, reflecting the distinct anatomical units found in a definition provided by reference literature. The volumetric data derived from these measurements was then used as the input parameter for statistical model building, as well as for coregistered individual masks for other functional imaging studies.

Definiens Developer enabled the researchers to accurately extract their regions of interest – in correspondence with existing literature definitions. It delivered high-quality parameters for finding a correlation between schizophrenia and specific anatomical changes of the CC.