A Novel MRA-Based Framework for Segmenting the Cerebrovascular System and Correlating Cerebral Vascular Changes to Mean Arterial Pressure
Applied Sciences • 2021
Publication Information
Authors
Fatma Taher, Heba Kandil, Yitzhak Gebru, Ali Mahmoud, Ahmed Shalaby, Shady El-Mashad and Ayman El-Baz
Keywords
magnetic resonance angiography (MRA); blood pressure (BP); systolic pressure; diastolic
pressure; arteries; cerebral; hypertension
Journal
Applied Sciences
Publisher
Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute
Volume
11
Issue
9
Pages
4022
publication.type
Local
Paper Link
Open Link
Supplementary Materials
Not Available
Abstract
Blood pressure (BP) changes with age are widespread, and systemic high blood pressure (HBP) is a serious factor in developing strokes and cognitive impairment. A non-invasive methodology to detect changes in human brain’s vasculature using Magnetic Resonance Angiography (MRA) data and correlation of cerebrovascular changes to mean arterial pressure (MAP) is presented. MRA data and systemic blood pressure measurements were gathered from patients (n = 15, M = 8, F = 7, Age = 49.2 ± 7.3 years) over 700 days (an initial visit and then a follow-up period of 2 years with a final visit.). A novel segmentation algorithm was developed to delineate brain blood vessels from surrounding tissue. Vascular probability distribution function (PDF) was calculated from segmentation data to correlate the temporal changes in cerebral vasculature to MAP calculated from systemic BP measurements. A 3D reconstruction of the cerebral vasculature was performed using a growing tree model. Segmentation results recorded 99.9% specificity and 99.7% sensitivity in identifying and
delineating the brain’s vascular tree. The PDFs had a statistically significant correlation to MAP changes below the circle of Willis (p-value = 0.0007). This non-invasive methodology could be used to detect alterations in the cerebrovascular system by analyzing MRA images, which would assist clinicians in optimizing medical treatment plans of HBP.
delineating the brain’s vascular tree. The PDFs had a statistically significant correlation to MAP changes below the circle of Willis (p-value = 0.0007). This non-invasive methodology could be used to detect alterations in the cerebrovascular system by analyzing MRA images, which would assist clinicians in optimizing medical treatment plans of HBP.
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