Automated registration of magnetic resonance imaging and optoacoustic tomography data for experimental studies

Abstract

Multimodal imaging combining optoacoustic tomography (OAT) with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) enables spatiotemporal resolution complementarity, improves accurate quantification, and thus yields more insights into physiology and pathophysiology. However, only manual landmark based coregistration of OAT-MRI has been used so far. We developed a toolbox (RegOA), which frames an automated registration pipeline to align OAT with high-field MR images based on mutual information. We assessed the performance of the registration method using images acquired on one phantom with fiducial markers and in vivo/ex vivo data of mouse heads/brain. The accuracy and robustness of the registration are improved using a two-step registration method with preprocessing of OAT and MRI data. The major advantages of our approach are minimal user input and quantitative assessment of the registration error. The registration with MR and standard reference atlas enables regional information extraction, facilitating the accurate, objective, and rapid analysis of large groups of rodent OAT and MR images.

Whole brain optoacoustic tomography reveals strain-specific regional beta-amyloid densities in Alzheimer’s disease amyloidosis models

“…Registration between MSOT and MRI/atlas can additionally boost the performance of these models and further provide a better anatomical reference for regional analysis. Automatic registration methods have been established for 2D dataset 55, 56 , which can potentially be adapted to 3D vMSOT datasets. However, as both arcAβ and APP/PS1 mice showed amyloid deposits in the cerebellum at an old age, regions typically considered as reference region, we therefore opted for average absorbance retention (60-120 min) rather than the reference tissue region modelling.…”

Development of concurrent magnetic resonance imaging and volumetric optoacoustic tomography: A phantom feasibility study

“…Even though multimodal imaging with a separate acquisition of OAT and MRI data has previously been reported [22–24], a truly hybrid system for concurrent OAT‐MRI imaging has so far not been developed. This work is the first to demonstrate the basic feasibility of simultaneous OAT and MRI recordings.…”

“…Similar considerations arise during cardiac imaging studies involving perfusion and rapid heart motion [36, 37]. Besides, coregistration between data acquired by stand‐alone modalities might be generally challenging due to lack of appropriate fiducial markers and different positioning and compression of the animal [22, 24]. Generally, multimodal imaging is generally known for providing added value beyond the mere combination of stand‐alone modalities [1].…”

A review of clinical photoacoustic imaging: Current and future trends

“…Thus, it is important to identify the unmet clinical needs to be addressed by a multimodal integrated system as compared to sequentially performed PAI and MRI. Combining PAI and MRI would also require registration algorithms to align PAI molecular information with high-field MRI images based on mutual fiducial markers [149,155].…”