Consistency analysis for digitized 3D Talairach's coplanar stereotactic atlas of the human brain

摘要

Abstract: Talairach's Co-Planner Stereotactic Atlas of the human brain (Talairach's) has been widely used as a guide for stereotactic neurosurgery. Using this atlas many research groups including ours have built computer digitized 3D volume atlases. Atlas construction of this kind is a complicated process. Accuracy and consistency of resulting volumes are uncertain. There are three different series in this version of Talairach's: axial, sagittal, and coronal. Quantitative tests of consistency among these series have not been designed nor performed. Our objective is to study the consistency of 3D volume atlases generated rom the three different series of Talairach's atlas. 28 axial images, 38 coronal images and 36 sagittal images from the atlas are scanned into the computer. Images are re-aligned and normalized based on existing grids that appear on the atlas. Three 'brain volume' atlases were generated from the corresponding series. Tri-linear interpolation, segmentation, multi-planner reconstruction, and 3D surface rendering tools were used to visualize and analyze 3D structures. Analysis of consistency was based on shape observances, area values, and volume values. Structures in the thalamus, pallidus, and caudate were segmented from three volume atlases for the study. Our results indicate that volume atlases generated rom axial, coronal, and sagittal series of Talairach's stereotactic atlas are spatially consistent with relative degree of accuracy, and therefore is reliable. these data can be used to make computer digitized 3D volume atlases for stereotactic surgery. !5