Image correction for diffusion tensor imaging of Rhesus monkey thoracic spinal cord. Issue 6 (30th May 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Rao, Jia‐Sheng; Liu, Zuxiang; Zhao, Can; Wei, Rui‐Han; Liu, Ruo‐Xi; Zhao, Wen; Zhou, Xia; Tian, Peng‐Yu; Yang, Zhao‐Yang; Li, Xiao‐Guang
• Is Part Of: Journal of medical primatology. Volume 48:Issue 6(2019)
• Page Start: 320
• Page End: 328
• Publication Date: 2019-05-30
• Subjects: image correction strategy -- non‐human primates -- preclinical research -- spinal cord injury; Primates -- Periodicals; Primates -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Medicine, Experimental -- Periodicals; 616.02738
• DOI: 10.1111/jmp.12422
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0047-2565

Abstract

Abstract: Background: The relatively tiny spinal cord of non‐human primate (NHP) causes increased challenge in diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) post‐processing. This study aimed to establish a reliable correction strategy applied to clinical DTI images of NHP. Methods: Six normal and partial spinal cord injury (SCI) rhesus monkeys underwent 3T MR scanning. A correction strategy combining multiple iterations and non‐rigid deformation was used for DTI image post‐processing. Quantitative evaluations were then conducted to investigate effects of distortion correction. Results: After correction, longitudinal geometric distortion, global distortion, and residual distance errors were all significantly decreased ( P < 0.05). Fractional anisotropy at the injured site was remarkably lower than that at the contralateral site ( P = 0.0488) and was substantially lower than those at the adjacent superior ( P = 0.0157) and inferior ( P = 0.0128) areas at the same side. Conclusions: Our image correction strategy can improve the quality of the DTI images of NHP thoracic cords, contributing to the development of SCI preclinical research.