@inproceedings{bea561e5a6d14a1885c523ee9c8cc53c,
title = "Estimating diffusion properties in complex fiber configurations based on structure-adaptive multi-valued tensor-field filtering",
abstract = "Conventionally, a single rank-2 tensor is used to assess the white matter integrity in diffusion imaging of the human brain. However, a single tensor fails to describe the diffusion in fiber crossings. Although a dual tensor model is able to do so, the low signal-to-noise ratio hampers reliable parameter estimation as the number of parameters is doubled. We present a framework for structure-adaptive tensor field filtering to enhance the statistical analysis in complex fiber structures. In our framework, a tensor model will be fitted based on an automated relevance determination method. Particularly, a single tensor model is applied to voxels in which the data seems to represent a single fiber and a dualtensor model to voxels appearing to contain crossing fibers. To improve the estimation of the model parameters we propose a structure-adaptive tensor filter that is applied to tensors belonging to the same fiber compartment only. It is demonstrated that the structure-adaptive tensor-field filter improves the continuity and regularity of the estimated tensor field. It outperforms an existing denoising approach called LMMSE, which is applied to the diffusion-weighted images. Track-based spatial statistics analysis of fiber-specific FA maps show that the method sustains the detection of more subtle changes in white matter tracts than the classical single-tensor-based analysis. Thus, the filter enhances the applicability of the dual-tensor model in diffusion imaging research. Specifically, the reliable estimation of two tensor diffusion properties facilitates fiber-specific extraction of diffusion features.",
keywords = "DTI filtering, maximum likelihood estimation, tensor filtering, tract-based spatial statistics",
author = "Jianfei Yang and Poot, {Dirk H.J.} and Arkesteijn, {Georgius A.M.} and Caan, {Matthan W.} and {Van Vliet}, {Lucas J.} and Vos, {Frans M.}",
note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2015 SPIE.; Medical Imaging 2015: Image Processing ; Conference date: 24-02-2015 Through 26-02-2015",
year = "2015",
doi = "https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2080759",
language = "English",
series = "Progress in Biomedical Optics and Imaging - Proceedings of SPIE",
publisher = "SPIE",
editor = "Styner, {Martin A.} and Sebastien Ourselin",
booktitle = "Medical Imaging 2015",
address = "United States",
}