Measurement of Hippocampal Volume Changes in Serial MRI Scans

We present a new method for the detection and measurement of volume changes in human hippocampi in serial Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). The method follows a two-stage approach: (1) precise co-registration and intensity matching of the initial (baseline) and follow-up scan, and (2) refinement and segmentation propagation of the hippocampi outlines drawn in the baseline scan by an expert observer to the matched scan (co-registered and intensity matched follow-up scan of the time series). The first step is performed using MRreg, a rigid registration tool based on cross-correlation and intensity matching, and the second step makes use of the concept of active contour models for tracking the hippocampi outlines in the time series.