Fetal brain MRI atlases and datasets: A review

Ciceri, Tommaso; Casartelli, Luca; Montano, Florian; Conte, Stefania; Squarcina, Letizia; Bertoldo, Alessandra; Agarwal, Nivedita; Brambilla, Paolo; Peruzzo, Denis

doi:10.1016/j.neuroimage.2024.120603

Cited by 4 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 89 publications

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“…This has led to the development of more tailored atlases for such populations [3]. This remains a challenge for the developing brain, where extensive anatomical changes take place in a short period of time, requiring age-specific atlases [4,5]. Having only age-specific atlases is insufficient when fetal or neonatal brain anatomy diverges from normal development, or for diseases such as open spina bifida, or spina bifida aperta (SBA), one of the most prevalent fetal abnormalities affecting the central nervous system [6].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

OSBA: An open neonatal neuroimaging atlas and template for spina bifida aperta

Speckert,

Ji,

Payette

et al. 2024

Preprint

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We present the Open Spina Bifida Aperta (OSBA) atlas, an open atlas and set of neuroimaging templates for spina bifida aperta (SBA). Traditional brain atlases may not adequately capture anatomical variations present in pediatric or disease-specific cohorts. The OSBA atlas fills in this gap by representing the computationally averaged anatomy of the neonatal brain with SBA after fetal surgical repair. The OSBA atlas was constructed using structural T2-weighted and diffusion tensor MRI of 28 newborns with SBA who underwent prenatal surgical correction. The corrected gestational age at MRI was 38.1 ± 1.1 weeks (mean ± SD). The OSBA atlas consists of T2-weighted and fractional anisotropy templates, along with 9 tissue prior maps and region of interest (ROI) delineations. The OSBA atlas offers a standardized reference space for spatial normalization and anatomical ROI definition. Our image segmentation and cortical ribbon definition is based on a human-in-the-loop approach including manual segmentation. The precise alignment of the ROIs was achieved by a combination of manual image alignment and automated, non-linear image registration. By providing a dedicated neonatal atlas for SBA, we enable more accurate spatial standardization and support advanced analyses such as diffusion tractography and connectomic studies in newborns affected by this condition.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

OSBA: An open neonatal neuroimaging atlas and template for spina bifida aperta

Speckert,

Ji,

Payette

et al. 2024

Preprint

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Characterizing normal perinatal development of the human brain structural connectivity

Wu,

Vasung,

Calixto

et al. 2024

Human Brain Mapping

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Early brain development is characterized by the formation of a highly organized structural connectome, which underlies brain's cognitive abilities and influences its response to diseases and environmental factors. Hence, quantitative assessment of structural connectivity in the perinatal stage is useful for studying normal and abnormal neurodevelopment. However, estimation of the connectome from diffusion MRI data involves complex computations. For the perinatal period, these computations are further challenged by the rapid brain development, inherently low signal quality, imaging difficulties, and high inter‐subject variability. These factors make it difficult to chart the normal development of the structural connectome. As a result, there is a lack of reliable normative baselines of structural connectivity metrics at this critical stage in brain development. In this study, we developed a computational method based on spatio‐temporal averaging in the image space for determining such baselines. We used this method to analyze the structural connectivity between 33 and 44 postmenstrual weeks using data from 166 subjects. Our results unveiled clear and strong trends in the development of structural connectivity in the perinatal stage. We observed increases in measures of network integration and segregation, and widespread strengthening of the connections within and across brain lobes and hemispheres. We also observed asymmetry patterns that were consistent between different connection weighting approaches. Connection weighting based on fractional anisotropy and neurite density produced the most consistent results. Our proposed method also showed considerable agreement with an alternative technique based on connectome averaging. The new computational method and results of this study can be useful for assessing normal and abnormal development of the structural connectome early in life.

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A detailed spatio-temporal atlas of the white matter tracts for the fetal brain

Calixto,

Soldatelli,

Jaimes

et al. 2024

Preprint

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This study presents the construction of a comprehensive spatiotemporal atlas detailing the development of white matter tracts in the fetal brain using diffusion magnetic resonance imaging (dMRI). Our research leverages data collected from fetal MRI scans conducted between 22 and 37 weeks of gestation, capturing the dynamic changes in the brain's microstructure during this critical period. The atlas includes 60 distinct white matter tracts, including commissural, projection, and association fibers. We employed advanced fetal dMRI processing techniques and tractography to map and characterize the developmental trajectories of these tracts. Our findings reveal that the development of these tracts is characterized by complex patterns of fractional anisotropy (FA) and mean diffusivity (MD), reflecting key neurodevelopmental processes such as axonal growth, involution of the radial-glial scaffolding, and synaptic pruning. This atlas can serve as a useful resource for neuroscience research and clinical practice, improving our understanding of the fetal brain and potentially aiding in the early diagnosis of neurodevelopmental disorders. By detailing the normal progression of white matter tract development, the atlas can be used as a benchmark for identifying deviations that may indicate neurological anomalies or predispositions to disorders.

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Fetal brain MRI atlases and datasets: A review

Cited by 4 publications

References 89 publications

OSBA: An open neonatal neuroimaging atlas and template for spina bifida aperta

OSBA: An open neonatal neuroimaging atlas and template for spina bifida aperta

Characterizing normal perinatal development of the human brain structural connectivity

A detailed spatio-temporal atlas of the white matter tracts for the fetal brain

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