Exploring how I connect with my Mind: Diffusion Weighted Imaging of the brain

Thijs Dhollander

1. Medical Imaging Research Center (MIRC), KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium2. Department of Electrical Engineering (ESAT), KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium3. iMinds - KU Leuven Future Health Department, Leuven, Belgium

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VS

VS

Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI)

…

Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI)

…

Directionally-Encoded Color (DEC) Fractional Anisotropy (FA) map

Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI)

High Angular Resolution Diffusion Imaging (HARDI)

Constrained Spherical Deconvolution (CSD)

Fiber Tractography

Fiber Tractography (deterministic)

Fiber Tractography (probabilistic)

Fiber Tractography (det. DTI)

Fiber Tractography (det. CSD)

Fiber Tractography (prob. CSD)

Fiber Tractography (det. DTI)

Fiber Tractography (det. CSD)

Fiber Tractography (prob. CSD)

Fiber Tractography (prob. CSD)

Track Density Imaging (TDI)

Track Density Imaging (TDI)

Track Density Imaging (TDI)

Track Density Imaging (TDI)

Track Density Imaging (TDI)

Track Density Imaging (TDI)

Remember the DEC FA map?

Remember the original data?

Thalamus region in 3 random bootstraps

Biggest pitfall

Biggest pitfall

Every single TDI map

looks perfectly plausible!

Relevant / popular message?

Relevant / popular message?• ISMRM Benelux Chapter 2012 (Leuven):

o Nominated for “Best Poster Award” (i.e. top 8)

• ISMRM 2012 (Melbourne):

o Summa Cum Laude Merit Award (i.e. scored in top 3%)

o Nominated for Diffusion Study Group Poster Award (i.e. top 4)

• ESMRMB 2012 (Lisbon):

o Certificate of Merit Award (i.e. top 10)

Take-home message (ESMRMB 2012)

Take-home message (ESMRMB 2012)

• Curiosity killed the cat

Take-home message (ESMRMB 2012)

• Curiosity killed the cat

• Overinterpretation might kill the scientist

Take-home message (ESMRMB 2012)

• Curiosity killed the cat

• Overinterpretation might kill the scientist

• … or the clinician

Take-home message (ESMRMB 2012)

• Curiosity killed the cat

• Overinterpretation might kill the scientist

• … or the clinician

• … or his patients

Take-home message (ESMRMB 2012)

• Curiosity killed the cat

• Overinterpretation might kill the scientist

• … or the clinician

• … or his patients

(incompatible

)

What did we learn today?

What did we learn today?

• I took you on a quick ride through the domain of DWI.

What did we learn today?

• I took you on a quick ride through the domain of DWI.

• It was fun, because the images look rather pretty!

What did we learn today?

• I took you on a quick ride through the domain of DWI.

• It was fun, because the images look rather pretty!

• However, we got tricked into overinterpretation…

But on a more serious note…

But on a more serious note…

• DWI still is the only modality with the unique ability to visualize the white matter fibers connecting our brain…

But on a more serious note…

• DWI still is the only modality with the unique ability to visualize the white matter fibers connecting our brain…

o … in vivo!

But on a more serious note…

• DWI still is the only modality with the unique ability to visualize the white matter fibers connecting our brain…

o … in vivo!

o … non-invasively!

But on a more serious note…

• DWI still is the only modality with the unique ability to visualize the white matter fibers connecting our brain…

o … in vivo!

o … non-invasively!

o … by MR: no ionizing radiation, no (known) side effects!

But on a more serious note…

• DWI still is the only modality with the unique ability to visualize the white matter fibers connecting our brain…

o … in vivo!

o … non-invasively!

o … by MR: no ionizing radiation, no (known) side effects!

• It has enabled us to learn a lot about the (human) brain, and can be a helpful addition to clinical practice (e.g. presurgical planning)

But on a more serious note…

• DWI still is the only modality with the unique ability to visualize the white matter fibers connecting our brain…

o … in vivo!

o … non-invasively!

o … by MR: no ionizing radiation, no (known) side effects!

• It has enabled us to learn a lot about the (human) brain, and can be a helpful addition to clinical practice (e.g. presurgical planning)

• It requires expert knowledge and careful interpretation.

Finally…

Finally…

• If you were still wondering what’s on the cover of this album…

Finally…

• If you were still wondering what’s on the cover of this album…

NOW YOU KNOW!

Thanks for your attention!