Can radiologists trust brain volumetry across different MRI devices?
MRI-based brain volumetry results can vary significantly depending on the scanner manufacturer and field strength, while head-coil type has minimal impact, according to a new study.
In the study, 10 healthy participants (average age 27.4 years) underwent MRI scans across 4 devices: Philips Achieva 1.5T, Philips Ingenia CX 3T, Siemens MAGNETOM Aera 1.5T, and Siemens MAGNETOM Vida 3T. The latter scanner was tested with 3 different head coils. Brain volumetry was conducted using CE-certified software (mdbrain by mediaire), analyzing whole brain, white and grey matter, cortical regions, and areas relevant to neurodegenerative diseases.
Results showed significant variability in volumetric measurements across different MRI devices for most brain regions, except the ventricular system. However, head-coil type had minimal influence. The researchers noted that software’s percentile-based results demonstrated lower consistency than raw volume measurements, with correlation levels ranging from poor to excellent.
Reference
Seehafer S, Schmill LP, Peters S, et al. Volumetry of Selected Brain Regions-Can We Compare MRI Examinations of Different Manufacturers and Field Strengths? Clin Neuroradiol. 2025;doi: 10.1007/s00062-024-01489-x. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 39832010.